Temporarily hiding user interface elements
Technologies are disclosed for temporarily hiding user interface (“UI”) elements, such as application windows or tabs. A request can be received to hide a UI element for a specified period of time. When such a request is received, the UI element is hidden and an identifier corresponding to the UI element is moved from a first area of a taskbar to a second area of the taskbar. The application presenting the UI element can be configured for reduced consumption of computing resources while the UI element is hidden. Additionally, notifications associated with the UI element can be disabled while the UI element is hidden. When the specified period of time to hide the UI element has elapsed, the UI element is once again displayed. Additionally, the identifier corresponding to the UI element is moved from the second area of the taskbar back to the first area of the taskbar.
1. A computing device, comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
displaying an application window that includes a plurality of tabs;
receiving a request to hide a tab of the plurality of tabs, wherein the request specifies a period of time to hide the tab;
responsive to receiving the request:
hiding the tab in the application window;
adding an indicator for the tab to an area of the application window that presents hidden tabs;
determining that the period of time to hide the tab has elapsed;
responsive to determining that the period of time to hide the tab has elapsed, displaying the tab in the application window; and
removing the indicator for the tab from the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs.
2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the request to hide the tab is received by way of a user interface control presented in response to receiving a selection of the tab.
3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the tab is configured for reduced utilization of computing resources while the tab is hidden in the application window.
4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein notifications from the tab are disabled while the tab is hidden in the application window.
5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise presenting a user interface control for extending the period of time to hide the tab prior to the period of time to hide the tab elapsing.
6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein adding the indicator for the tab to the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs comprises presenting an animation that shows the tab moving from an original application window position into the indicator.
7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein removing the indicator for the tab from the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs comprises presenting another animation that shows the tab moving from the indicator back to the original application window position.
8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the application window comprises a browser application window.
9. A computer-implemented method for temporarily hiding a tab, the method comprising:
displaying an application window that includes a plurality of tabs;
receiving a request to hide the tab of the plurality of tabs, wherein the request specifies a period of time to hide the tab;
responsive to receiving the request:
hiding the tab in the application window;
adding an indicator for the tab to an area of the application window that presents hidden tabs;
determining that the period of time to hide the tab has elapsed;
responsive to determining that the period of time to hide the tab has elapsed, displaying the tab in the application window; and
removing the indicator for the tab from the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the request to hide the tab is received by way of a user interface control presented in response to receiving a selection of the tab.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the tab is configured for reduced utilization of computing resources while the tab is hidden in the application window.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein notifications from the tab are disabled while the tab is hidden in the application window.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising presenting a user interface control for extending the period of time to hide the tab prior to the period of time to hide the tab elapsing.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein adding the indicator for the tab to the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs comprises presenting an animation that shows the tab moving from an original application window position into the indicator.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein removing the indicator for the tab from the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs comprises presenting another animation that shows the tab moving from the indicator back to the original application window position.
16. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:
display an application window that includes a plurality of tabs;
receive a request to hide a tab of the plurality of tabs, wherein the request specifies a period of time to hide the tab;
responsive to receiving the request:
hide the tab in the application window;
add an indicator for the tab to an area of the application window that presents hidden tabs;
determine that the period of time to hide the tab has elapsed;
responsive to determining that the period of time to hide the tab has elapsed, display the tab in the application window; and
remove the indicator for the tab from the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs.
17. The computer storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the request to hide the tab is received by way of a user interface control presented in response to receiving a selection of the tab.
18. The computer storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the tab is configured for reduced utilization of computing resources while the tab is hidden in the application window.
19. The computer storage medium of claim 16 , wherein notifications from the tab are disabled while the tab is hidden in the application window.
20. The computer storage medium of claim 16 , wherein:
adding the indicator for the tab to the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs comprises presenting an animation that shows the tab moving from an original application window position into the indicator; and
removing the indicator for the tab from the area of the application window that presents the hidden tabs comprises presenting another animation that shows the tab moving from the indicator back to the original application window position.