Comments on: Nomenclature: dropdowns vs. popup menus http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus Web Development, Classical Music, Kitties, and whatever else I feel like Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:02:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: Jonathan Hollin http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-172 Fri, 16 Jul 2004 13:20:58 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-172 Actually Jennifer, the menu you have illustrated is a "pop-up" menu. Technically it could also be called a pull-down-menu, since you have to click (pull) to activate the menu. It should never be called a drop-down-menu. DDMs are those which open on mouseover (ie: no click is required). These naming conventions have been around since the very first GUIs but, naturally, they were clearly defined by Apple Computer, Inc. See: http://www.usabilityfirst.com/glossary/term_342.txl Actually Jennifer, the menu you have illustrated is a “pop-up” menu.

Technically it could also be called a pull-down-menu, since you have to click (pull) to activate the menu.

It should never be called a drop-down-menu. DDMs are those which open on mouseover (ie: no click is required).

These naming conventions have been around since the very first GUIs but, naturally, they were clearly defined by Apple Computer, Inc.

See: http://www.usabilityfirst.com/glossary/term_342.txl

]]> by: Jennifer Grucza http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-173 Fri, 16 Jul 2004 13:46:54 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-173 You say that the HTML select box should never be called a dropdown, but according to the definition on that site, dropdown menus <em>are</em> displayed by clicking (it doesn't say anything about just mousing over), and they can appear in places other than menubars. Sure sounds like the definition applies to me. Though I wouldn't use the word "menu", since it's not really a menu. I'd call it a "dropdown box" or "dropdown list box" or just "dropdown" for short. And I would say that "pulldown menu" doesn't apply to select boxes, because, according to that definition, pulldown menus require the user to hold the mouse button down to access the options, which you don't need to do with a select box. Their definition for "popup menu" does seem to apply the best, but I still don't like it. Probably because of the terminology used by people I've worked with in the past. I'm stubborn and I'll probably still call them dropdowns, though maybe I'll call them dropdown list boxes or select boxes when I need to be clear. And the other things can be just plain menus. You say that the HTML select box should never be called a dropdown, but according to the definition on that site, dropdown menus are displayed by clicking (it doesn’t say anything about just mousing over), and they can appear in places other than menubars. Sure sounds like the definition applies to me. Though I wouldn’t use the word “menu”, since it’s not really a menu. I’d call it a “dropdown box” or “dropdown list box” or just “dropdown” for short. And I would say that “pulldown menu” doesn’t apply to select boxes, because, according to that definition, pulldown menus require the user to hold the mouse button down to access the options, which you don’t need to do with a select box. Their definition for “popup menu” does seem to apply the best, but I still don’t like it. Probably because of the terminology used by people I’ve worked with in the past.

I’m stubborn and I’ll probably still call them dropdowns, though maybe I’ll call them dropdown list boxes or select boxes when I need to be clear. And the other things can be just plain menus.

]]> by: Jonathan Hollin http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-174 Fri, 16 Jul 2004 16:08:03 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-174 <blockquote>You say that the HTML select box should never be called a dropdown, but according to the definition on that site, dropdown menus are displayed by clicking (it doesn&#8217;t say anything about just mousing over), and they can appear in places other than menubars.</blockquote> My mistake Jennifer. You've caught me out, I dropped that link in without really reading the text - so sure was I that I was right! I'll crawl back into my hole now. :-)

You say that the HTML select box should never be called a dropdown, but according to the definition on that site, dropdown menus are displayed by clicking (it doesn’t say anything about just mousing over), and they can appear in places other than menubars.

My mistake Jennifer. You’ve caught me out, I dropped that link in without really reading the text - so sure was I that I was right!

I’ll crawl back into my hole now. :-)

]]> by: Jennifer Grucza http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-175 Fri, 16 Jul 2004 16:11:16 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-175 Hehe, no need for that. :) Anyway, thanks for pointing me to that glossary, it was interesting to see. Hehe, no need for that. :) Anyway, thanks for pointing me to that glossary, it was interesting to see.

]]> by: Jonathan Hollin http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-176 Fri, 16 Jul 2004 19:56:05 -0700 http://jennifergrucza.com/blog/archives/2004/07/13/nomenclature-dropdowns-vs-popup-menus#comment-176 You're very welcome. You’re very welcome.

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