Traffic Lights
Traffic Lights are the standard red, yellow, and green controls at the top-left of a Mac window. They close, minimize, and zoom or enter full screen.
A real example
A document window keeps the familiar red, yellow, and green controls after its toolbar is customized.
Main parts
- 01System-managed leading cluster
- 02Close control
- 03Minimize control
- 04Zoom or full-screen control
Use it when
Let macOS provide these controls on standard windows so their actions stay familiar and clear.
Do not use it when
Do not redraw, recolor, reorder, or copy the traffic-light buttons. Never use them as decoration in content or browser frames.
Name used in code
NSWindow standardWindowButton Before you ship
Check the supported macOS versions and AppKit or SwiftUI integration. Check standard focus and keyboard behavior. Also check VoiceOver, Full Keyboard Access, window resizing, and multi-window state. When needed, check restore, localization, and reduced motion.
Outcome: Apply or review Traffic Lights in a native macOS app without breaking platform rules. User context: A document window keeps the familiar red, yellow, and green controls after its toolbar is customized. macOS concept or control: Traffic Lights. Why it fits: Let macOS provide these controls on standard windows so their actions stay familiar and clear. Do not use it when: Do not redraw, recolor, reorder, or copy the traffic-light buttons. Never use them as decoration in content or browser frames. Platform requirements: List the supported macOS versions. Say whether AppKit or SwiftUI owns each part and how they connect. Define window, menu, focus, keyboard, saved state, restore, and multi-window behavior. Platform accessibility and resilience: Use the right accessibility APIs. Check VoiceOver and Full Keyboard Access. Support localization, contrast, and reduced motion when needed. Keep user state after a relaunch. Acceptance criteria: Check the behavior on supported macOS versions with a keyboard and VoiceOver. Window resizing, focus, state restore, and AppKit or SwiftUI integration work in the normal macOS way. Evidence and limits (evidence boundary): It is official for that source. Other platforms or teams may use the term in another way. Unknowns to confirm: Supported macOS versions, AppKit or SwiftUI structure, and window model. Also confirm sandbox and entitlement limits, save rules, and the accessibility goal.
Check this request
Review the current use of Traffic Lights. Definition: Traffic Lights are the standard red, yellow, and green controls at the top-left of a Mac window. They close, minimize, and zoom or enter full screen. Release checks: Check the supported macOS versions and AppKit or SwiftUI integration. Check standard focus and keyboard behavior. Also check VoiceOver, Full Keyboard Access, window resizing, and multi-window state. When needed, check restore, localization, and reduced motion. Before changing code, report the evidence you found, gaps, severity, and the smallest safe fix.