StatusBar

A status bar is a user interface element that provides lightweight information about the current state of an application, document, or system. It is typically a narrow horizontal strip anchored to the bottom of a window, though mobile interfaces may place it at the top. A status bar may display textual status descriptions, icons, progress indicators, and occasionally quick actions. Content is usually concise and updateable in response to user actions or background tasks.

Common content includes page or file information (page number, word count), mode indicators (read/write, insert/overwrite), server or document status, error or warning messages, and real-time metrics such as CPU usage or memory. In mobile operating systems, the term often refers to the system status bar at the top showing time, battery, signal strength, and network status; in desktop applications, the status bar is usually at the bottom and shows task progress, cursor position, zoom level, and status messages.

Design and accessibility considerations include keeping information relevant and unobtrusive, ensuring legibility, supporting assistive technologies, offering customization or visibility toggles, and handling localization. It should gracefully hide in fullscreen modes or when space is limited.

Implementation and variation: status bars are provided by most GUI toolkits under names such as status bar or status strip. In web applications, a status-like area may be emulated with fixed or sticky elements, though inline notifications are common. The concept also appears in text editors and integrated development environments as a persistent status line.