typedef struct NOTIFYICONDATA DWORD cbSize; HWND hWnd; UINT uID; UINT uFlags; UINT uCallbackMessage; HICON hIcon; WCHAR szTip[128]; DWORD dwState; DWORD dwStateMask; WCHAR szInfo[256]; UINT uTimeout; WCHAR szInfoTitle[64]; DWORD dwInfoFlags; GUID guidItem; HICON hBalloonIcon; NOTIFYICONDATA;
On Windows, tray icons are implemented via the NOTIFYICONDATA structure and the Shell_NotifyIcon() function.
To add a tray icon to an application, developers typically use the Windows API (Application Programming Interface) to create a notification area icon. This involves: tray icon windows
| Action | Typical Result | |--------|----------------| | | Show primary window or menu (often context-sensitive) | | Right-click | Show a context menu (e.g., Exit, Settings, Status) | | Double-click | Open main application window | | Hover | Show a tooltip (e.g., “Updates available”, “Connected”) |
| Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | | Notification area icon (Notify Icon) | | Primary API | Shell_NotifyIcon + NOTIFYICONDATA | | Key responsibility | Background process control & status | | Max icons (system) | No hard limit (limited by taskbar width) | | User override | Yes — via “Taskbar settings” → system tray | typedef struct NOTIFYICONDATA DWORD cbSize; HWND hWnd; UINT
A (officially known as a Notify Icon ) is an icon displayed in the notification area of the Windows taskbar. Located typically on the right side of the taskbar (near the system clock), it allows applications to provide status information, background process control, and quick access to common functions without requiring an open main window.
Tray icons are used to provide quick access to application settings, display notifications, and offer a way to interact with an application without having to open its main window. Some common uses of tray icons include: Located typically on the right side of the
Here are some common tray icons you may see in Windows: