Menubar
A menubar is a menu that stays visible, often in one horizontal row. Its items open commands or submenus with app-style keyboard rules.
A real example
A rich-text editor has File, Edit, Format, and Help groups. Arrow keys move across the top items and open submenus, while Tab leaves the menubar. A website header with page links is not automatically a menubar.
Main parts
- 01persistent container
- 02top-level menuitems
- 03submenu relationships
Use it when
Use this term for always-visible, desktop-like app commands where users expect menu keyboard rules.
Do not use it when
Do not use it for normal site navigation when links and the usual Tab order are clearer.
Name used in code
role=menubar + horizontal arrow navigation Before you ship
Before release, check the page structure, keyboard access, visible focus, contrast, and zoom. Also check loading, empty, error, success, cancel, and reduced-motion states.
Outcome: Use Menubar to solve this user need without losing the current context. User context: A rich-text editor has File, Edit, Format, and Help groups. Arrow keys move across the top items and open submenus, while Tab leaves the menubar. A website header with page links is not automatically a menubar. Recommended pattern: Menubar. Why it fits: Use this term for always-visible, desktop-like app commands where users expect menu keyboard rules. Do not use it when: Do not use it for normal site navigation when links and the usual Tab order are clearer. Product requirements: Define the default, loading, empty, error, success, and recovery states. Keep user input. Give clear feedback after every action. Accessibility and resilience: Use semantic HTML, full keyboard access, and visible focus. Make the layout work when zoomed and support reduced motion. Follow the project’s current rules. Do not add a new UI library unless the project already uses it. Acceptance criteria: The main task works with keyboard only and at 320px width. Focus and status changes are announced. Check loading, failure, retry, cancel, and reduced-motion paths. 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: Product wording, data source, analytics events, supported devices and languages, and platform limits.
Check this request
Review the current use of Menubar. Definition: A menubar is a menu that stays visible, often in one horizontal row. Its items open commands or submenus with app-style keyboard rules. Release checks: Before release, check the page structure, keyboard access, visible focus, contrast, and zoom. Also check loading, empty, error, success, cancel, and reduced-motion states. Before changing code, report the evidence you found, gaps, severity, and the smallest safe fix.