What is panel?
A panel is a rectangular area on a computer screen that groups together related information, controls, or tools. Think of it like a small window inside a larger window that helps keep things organized and easy to find.
Let's break it down
- Container: The panel holds other elements such as buttons, text, images, or charts.
- Layout: It defines how those elements are arranged (top‑bottom, left‑right, grid, etc.).
- Visibility: Panels can be shown, hidden, collapsed, or expanded depending on what the user needs.
- Interaction: Users can click inside a panel to interact with its contents, like adjusting settings or viewing data.
Why does it matter?
Panels make complex applications easier to use by breaking information into bite‑size sections. They help users focus on one task at a time, reduce clutter, and improve the overall flow of the interface.
Where is it used?
- Desktop software (e.g., Photoshop’s tool panels, Windows Settings)
- Web applications (e.g., dashboards, admin panels)
- Mobile apps (e.g., side menus, bottom sheets)
- Embedded systems (e.g., car infotainment screens, smart‑home control panels)
Good things about it
- Organization: Keeps related items together, making them easier to find.
- Flexibility: Can be resized, moved, or customized to fit different workflows.
- Reusability: Developers can create a panel once and reuse it across multiple parts of an app.
- User control: Users can often hide or collapse panels they don’t need, decluttering the screen.
Not-so-good things
- Over‑fragmentation: Too many panels can overwhelm users and make navigation confusing.
- Performance: Complex or many panels may slow down an app, especially on low‑end devices.
- Inconsistent design: If panels look and behave differently across an app, it can break the user’s mental model.
- Space consumption: Panels take up screen real estate, which can be limited on small devices.