System Status

In GNOME 3, the System Status Area is a place where System Status Indicators represent the status of the system to the user. This is not an area that is variously called the Notification Area or System Tray and should not be used by applications (foreground or background) to indicate their status. This distinction is necessary to ensure the entire top of the screen is designed properly, system owned and coherent, able to be modified or extended, scale well to smaller form-factors, and not become a dumping ground or high-profile branding opportunity.

Status indicators should use a style that is consistent with the text and menus present on the top panel. In general, these indicators should use colors in a considered and measured way. Icons and indicators must not change rapidly or abruptly (not more than once a second). Icon changes should transition smoothly. See Symbolic Icons.

Status Indicators should not be considered primary interaction points. Any action that is available through a status icon should also be accessible from elsewhere in the design. For example, network access must also be able to be configured through the system preferences / control-center. So, status indicators must not assume that the user can interact with them. They should only expect that they will be used to indicate status. There are a few reasons for this:

• On smaller form factor devices it may be difficult to interact with small icons
• When a high resolution pointer is not available it may be difficult to interact with small icons
• When the user has a disability the icons may be unusable for interaction
• Functionality must be able to be found by and be accessible to someone using desktop or control center search tools

Like all Top Menubar items, the icons should behave as if they are part of a menu-bar. The icons can be clicked with any mouse button but should always perform the same action no matter what button is used.

For now, the clock is treated with special placment in the center.

• Clock

The order of system status indicators should be (from left to right):

• transient or optional indicators

• RemoteDesktop (transient)

• Universal access

• Input language

• Audio volume

• Bluetooth

• Network

• Battery and power

In general, if you are not one of these you should probably not be using the System Status Area. Often the Message Tray is a better fit.

Specifically, things that should not be in the system status area:

• Chat or communication clients
• Software update notifications and reminders
• Music players
• New mail notifications
• CD/DVD burning progress
• Bug reporting system notifications

General Guidelines

• Should offer limited, and common functionality
• Each should map to a tool in the System Settings
• Each should offer somewhat menu-like functionality on (left, right, middle, ...) click.
• The dropdown should animate from one to the next

See Also

• Research on Status Indicators