dockstyle

Dockstyle is a user interface design pattern characterized by dockable layout panels within an application window. In a dockstyle interface, panels can be anchored to the edges of a container (top, bottom, left, right) or set to fill the remaining space. Panels can be docked, floated, tabbed, or auto-hidden, enabling users to customize the workspace while preserving a stable overall structure.

Core concepts include docking targets, stacking order, and layout persistence. A docking manager handles constraints so that when the main window resizes, the docked panels adjust predictably. Many implementations support drag-and-drop repositioning, resizing, and grouping panels into tabbed docks to reduce clutter.

Dockstyle is used in development environments, design tools, and data dashboards to maximize screen usage and support focused work. Typical components include project explorers, property inspectors, tool palettes, and console windows. It is valued for its flexibility and consistency across layouts, though it can introduce complexity and accessibility challenges if dynamic updates aren't properly announced to screen readers.

Implementation considerations include choosing a docking model, handling minimum and maximum sizes, ensuring keyboard accessibility, and maintaining performance when many panels are open. Many UI toolkits provide docking managers or libraries that offer dockable regions, floating windows, and tabbed docks as building blocks.

See also: docking, user interface layout, resizable panels, drag-and-drop UI.