A taskbar is the strip that runs along the bottom (or sometimes the side) of a computer screen, showing which programs are currently open and letting you switch between them with a click. If you have a web browser, a word processor, and a game all running at once, the taskbar displays a button or icon for each one, making it easy to jump from one to another without closing anything.

The taskbar also typically shows the current time, the volume level, and whether you're connected to the internet. On Windows computers, it includes the Start button, which opens a menu for launching new programs or searching your files. On Mac computers, a similar feature called the Dock sits at the bottom of the screen.

Think of the taskbar as mission control for your computer. Instead of hunting through folders or menus to find what you need, everything you're actively using appears right there in one convenient place.