How to Read a Window Screen

A window screen, in the technological world, is not a covering for a piece of glass. Rather, a window screen, in computer terminology, refers to the viewing area on a screen within an application. Computer window screens contain different parts that indicate different meanings to the viewer. Knowing how to read a window screen is necessary to understand the application or website that you are viewing. Learning how to read a window screen is relatively simple once you know the basics.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Read the title bar, which is the first bar at the top of the window screen, to determine the title of the window. For instance, the title of an Internet Explorer Web browser window screen will read "Name of the Website-Windows Internet Explorer."

2. Step 2

   Read the menu bar, which is the bar beneath the title bar and consists of menu options such as "File," "Edit," "View," "Favorites," "Tools" and "Help." Clicking on any of these menu options will produce a drop-down menu of additional options corresponding to the menu option.

3. Step 3

   Read the control buttons, which are the three buttons in the upper-right corner of the window screen. The first button (from left to right), which looks like a minus sign, is the minimize button. It minimizes the window to the taskbar. The second button, which looks like boxes, is the restore down/maximize button. It allows you to restore down and maximize the screen. The last button, which looks like an "X," is the close button. It allows you to close the window screen.