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Windows

Windows provide a frame for viewing and interacting with applications and data.

From a developer’s perspective, there are several types of windows in Mac OS X. Although users tend to see them all as windows, the distinctions in behavior (layering, zooming, minimizing) and appearance (presence or absence of title bars) among the various types of windows contribute to the Macintosh user experience. It is important that you understand the different types of windows available, general window behavior, and behavior specific to each type of window.

This chapter first introduces the different types of windows and then focuses on the appearance and behavior of document and application windows and panels. Dialogs and alert windows are unique types of windows with guidelines in addition to those for standard windows. They are discussed in detail in “Dialogs.” Note that unless explicitly stated, dialogs should behave like windows.

Contents:

Types of Windows
Window Appearance
Window Elements
Window Behavior
Panels
Dialogs

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