Sidebars are ancillary menus found on the edge of web pages and applications, containing a variety of information and user-configurable tools. They can be used for navigation and are often foldable. Bloggers use sidebars for links and information. Desktop sidebars are user-configurable and can save time.
A sidebar is a form of ancillary menu that can be found on the edge of a web page or application, with many operating systems also using sidebars as a form of menu for desktop navigation. Sidebars can contain a wide variety of information and are often designed to be user configurable so that you can keep commonly used tools and information in one easily accessible site. Sidebars can be placed to the left or right of the main application, depending on the user’s tastes and the language in which he works.
For applications, a sidebar can contain a set of commonly used tools and provide some form of navigation. Instead of having to access the drop-down menus at the top of the application, a user can quickly grab a tool they need. For example, in a photo editing program, the sidebars might contain a range of commonly used tools, with the user having the option to place favorite tools in the sidebar and remove rarely used tools. Some sidebars are foldable, allowing the user to hide the menu when not in use to avoid visual distractions.
Website navigation often has sidebars. The website may also include menu navigation at the top of the page, depending on the design. Sidebars may include navigation tools along with widgets and other information that the site owner thinks might be useful for visitors. Bloggers especially love the sidebar navigation, which uses the sidebar to display links to archives, site policies, copyright notices, blogrolls, and other user information.
Many blog templates come with a built-in sidebar, allowing the user to manipulate the content to suit their needs. Bloggers can also create their own sidebars from scratch. Sidebar navigation on other types of websites can be hand-coded or done with drop-in code designed by someone else, depending on the taste and comfort level of the person creating the website.
A desktop sidebar as seen in many operating systems is usually user-configurable, with the user determining which programs are in the sidebar and adding shortcuts to commonly used folders or files. Sidebar navigation can be easier than drop-down menus, saving time for the user by allowing one-click access to tools. Sidebars may also be known as “docks” in some operating systems.
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