Window Management

Window management addresses how desktop applications handle window creation, sizing, positioning, and state. Multi-window applications require coordination between windows. Single-window applications still need appropriate window controls and behavior. Design systems for desktop must specify window management patterns that work across platforms.

What Is Window Management

Window management encompasses window chrome (title bars, controls), window operations (resize, minimize, maximize, close), window state (position, size, focus), and multi-window coordination. Desktop applications provide extensive window management capabilities that mobile applications lack.

Platform differences affect window management significantly. macOS and Windows have different window control positions, behaviors, and visual styles. Multi-monitor setups, virtual desktops, and window snapping features vary by platform.

Design systems specify window behavior expectations while acknowledging platform-specific implementations of core window management.

How Window Management Works

Window controls provide close, minimize, and maximize/zoom operations. Position and style follow platform conventions unless custom title bars are used.

Window Management Patterns:

Window Controls:
macOS: Top-left, colored circles
  - Red: Close
  - Yellow: Minimize
  - Green: Zoom (fullscreen with Option)
Windows: Top-right, icons
  - X: Close
  - Square: Maximize/Restore
  - Line: Minimize

Window State:
- Position (x, y coordinates)
- Size (width, height)
- Maximized/windowed state
- Minimized state
- Full-screen state
- Monitor assignment

State Persistence:
- Remember position/size on close
- Restore on reopen
- Handle monitor changes gracefully
- Respect platform conventions

Multi-Window Patterns:
- Primary/secondary window hierarchy
- Modal windows block parent
- Sheets attach to windows (macOS)
- Focus management between windows
- State synchronization across windows

Window Types:
- Main application window
- Modal dialogs
- Modeless panels/palettes
- System sheets (macOS)
- Tool windows
- Popup windows

State persistence remembers window configuration. Position, size, and state should persist across application launches. Multi-monitor scenarios require handling monitors that may no longer be connected.

Multi-window coordination manages relationships between windows. Parent/child relationships, modal blocking, and focus management need explicit handling.

Window types serve different purposes. Main windows contain primary content. Modal dialogs require response before continuing. Panels and palettes provide tools while allowing main window interaction.

Key Considerations

• Platform-appropriate window control placement
• State persistence across launches
• Multi-monitor awareness
• Focus management between windows
• Modal versus modeless window types
• Accessibility for window operations

Common Questions

How should applications handle window state persistence?

Save state on window close or regularly. Position, size, and maximized state should persist.

Restore state on launch. Apply saved state, validating it remains sensible (monitor still exists, position on screen).

Handle missing monitors. If saved position is off-screen (monitor removed), position on available monitor.

Respect user expectations. macOS users may expect document windows to reopen. Windows users may expect application-level state restoration.

How do multi-window applications manage focus?

Clear window hierarchy establishes relationships. Main windows own dialogs and sheets. Focus changes respect hierarchy.

Modal windows capture focus. While modal is open, parent window is not interactive. Clicking parent should not dismiss modal accidentally.

Window menu lists windows (macOS). Users can navigate between windows through Window menu.

Taskbar/dock integration shows windows appropriately. Windows appear in taskbar or dock for user navigation.

What accessibility requirements apply to windows?

Window operations must be keyboard accessible. Minimize, maximize, close should be triggerable via keyboard.

Focus management must be logical. Tab navigation should not escape windows inappropriately. Modal windows must trap focus.

Screen readers must announce windows. New windows opening, window focus changes, and window content all need announcement.

High contrast and zoom must work. Window chrome should be visible in high contrast modes. Zoomed windows should remain usable.

Summary

Window management handles creation, sizing, positioning, and state of desktop application windows. Platform conventions dictate window control placement and behavior. State persistence provides continuity across launches. Multi-window applications require coordination between windows including focus management and hierarchy. Design systems should specify window behavior while allowing platform-appropriate implementations.