Start Menu

The Start menu is a user interface element used in Microsoft Windows operating systems since Windows 95 and in some X window managers. It provides a central launching point for application and tasks. Depending on the operating system or window manager, the menu might have different names, such as Kickoff Application Launcher in KDE, Start screen in Windows 8 or LX Panel in LXDE.

Traditionally, the Start menu provided a customizable nested list of programs for the user to launch, as well as a list of most recently opened documents, a way to find files and get help, and access to the system settings. Later enhancements via Windows Desktop Update included access to special folders like "My Documents" and "Favorites" (browser bookmarks). Windows XP's Start menu was expanded to encompass various My Documents folders (including My Music and My Pictures), and transplanted other items like My Computer and My Network Places from the Windows desktop. Until Windows Vista, the Start menu was constantly expanded across the screen as the user navigated through its cascading sub-menus. As of Windows Vista, the Start menu covers a fixed portion of the screen. As of Windows Server 2012, the Start menu (known as "Start screen") covers the entire screen.