Popouts

Popouts refer to interface elements or perceptual phenomena that appear separately from their surrounding context. In technology, the term most often describes user interface components that open in a new, detached panel or window, or video players that detach into a floating window. In psychology, the term describes a perceptual effect in which a target item stands out from its surroundings with little or no search effort.

In user interfaces, popouts are activated by user actions such as clicking an icon or hovering a control. They may display tools, menus, notifications, or contextual information. Popouts can be floating and non-modal, or modal overlays that require dismissal. Good design emphasizes clear trigger elements, predictable behavior, accessible focus management, keyboard operability, and reliable dismissal.

In video and media contexts, popouts include picture-in-picture or separate pop-out windows that keep playback visible while users interact with other apps or windows. Browser and platform support varies, and popouts may be blocked by pop-up blockers or constrained by device size.

In psychology, the pop-out effect describes rapid, preattentive detection of a salient feature—such as color, orientation, or shape—that makes a target immediately noticeable in a visual field. The effect challenges simple search models and is a foundational concept in studies of attention.