Definition of the word status bar

The term "status bar" refers to a narrow horizontal strip at the bottom or top edge of a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying information about the current state or activity of an application or operating system. The term "status" in this context refers to the current operational or functional condition of the system, and the "bar" describes the horizontal shape of the display element. The status bar typically includes icons, text, or numerical values representing various system or application characteristics such as battery level, network connectivity, file path, and selected features. The status bar aims to provide helpful feedback to users about the functioning of their devices and applications, enhancing overall user experience. The idea of using a status bar comes from the early CUI (character user interface) days of computing, where the display of such critical status information was often stashed at the very end of a single-line command prompt screen. By contrast, with the advent of GUIs, designers could afford to dedicated a separate, freestanding horizontal element to status reporting, removing it from clutter and improving visibility and user encounter.