iconified

Iconified is the term used to describe a window that has been minimized to an icon, as opposed to remaining on the screen as a full-sized window. When a window is iconified, the program continues to run, but its visible representation is reduced to a small icon placed on a desktop, taskbar, or panel, depending on the operating system and window manager. Iconification is a common feature across many graphical user interfaces to reduce screen clutter while preserving the application's state.

Origin and usage: The verb iconify and the adjective iconified originated with early graphical user interfaces and window managers. In the X Window System and many Unix-like environments, a window manager provides an iconification operation; the action is often invoked by selecting Minimize or Iconize. In these systems, iconified windows typically remain active in memory and can be restored by selecting the icon.

Behavior and variations: Some systems place the icon in the desktop area; others use a taskbar or panel. In some environments, iconified windows appear as small icons in a panel or on the desktop. Restoring a window returns it to its previous size and position. In Mac OS and some modern environments, the equivalent action is commonly called minimizing to the dock or taskbar; the term iconify may be less commonly used there.

See also: Icon, Minimize, Window management, Iconification. Etymology: From icon + -ify; iconification also used to describe the process.