Computing Dictionary
context-sensitive menu definition
operating system A
menu which appears in response to a user action (typically a
mouse click) and whose contents are determined by which
application window was clicked or has the
input focus.
Most
GUIs use a secondary mouse button (right or middle) to call up a context-sensitive menu as the
primary mouse button is normally used to interact with objects which are already visible.
The context-sensitive menu often contains functions that are also available in a
menu bar but the context-sensitive menu provides quick access to a subset of functions that are particularly relevant to the window area clicked on.
The
RISC OS WIMP uses only context-sensitive menus (always invoked using the middle mouse button). This saves screen space and reduces mouse movement compared to a
menu bar.
(1999-09-22)
