The desktop is where you work. It consists of the menus at the top of the screen, icons, windows, and the Dock.

A. Menus (Menu Bar)

Across the top of the screen, you'll see the names of menus (Finder, File, Edit, View, and so on). When you click a menu, the menu opens to show you a list of commands.

B. Windows (Finder Windows)

Windows are areas in which you view information. Finder windows are where you view the applications and files on your computer. When you open an application, you see one or more windows for that application and for documents you create with the application.

C. Icons

Icons are small pictures that represent items on your computer. Clicking or double-clicking them makes something happen.

D. Toolbars

Many windows have a toolbar at the top with buttons that let you perform tasks. In a Finder window, for example, there are buttons on the toolbar that let you change the way the items in the window are displayed.

E. Sidebar

The Sidebar in Finder windows holds icons for the File Sever, your hard disk, and your favorite folders. When you select a disk or folder in the Sidebar, its contents are displayed in the Finder window.

F. The Dock

The Dock holds icons for your most commonly used applications, as well as other items on your computer, or File Server. You can quickly open these items by clicking their icons in the Dock.