# Icon Button UI guidelines on using icon buttons. **Implementation:** [`ActionButton`](%gh-ic%/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/actionSystem/impl/ActionButton.java) A toolbar icon button is an icon that appears on a toolbar.

## Types

There are three types of toolbar icon buttons:

An action button triggers an action immediately on clicking it, e.g., the Open button. A toggle button switches the state on clicking it, e.g., a button to show and hide warnings in the output tree. ![](toggle.png){width=143} A drop-down button has an arrow icon in the bottom right corner and opens a menu with actions or checkboxes. [//]: # (TODO: Use [menu list](menu_list.md) guidelines for drop-down buttons.) ![](drop-down.png){width=284} ## When to use Follow the rules for [toolbar](toolbar.md#what-items-to-add-on-toolbar). ## How to use Provide a recognizable icon. Use an [existing icon](https://intellij-icons.jetbrains.design) or create a new one using [icon guidelines](icons_style.md). Provide a short and descriptive name for a toolbar icon button. Show a tooltip with the button name on mouse hover. Include a shortcut if there is one. See [Context help](context_help.md) for details. ![](tooltip.png){width=163} Highlight a toolbar icon button on mouse hover. Highlight a toolbar icon button with a brighter color on clicking it. * Toggle buttons remain highlighted when they are in the switched on mode. Toggled on buttons do not change color on hover. * Drop-down buttons remain highlighted while the menu is opened. ![](states.png){width=183} If an action is not available in this context, disable the corresponding button and gray out the icon. For toolbar drop-down buttons, disable the arrow icon as well. Do **not** highlight a disabled icon on mouse hover. ## Sizes and placement Icons size is 16x16px, icon selection is 22x22px. For guidelines on the space between toolbar icon buttons see [Toolbar](toolbar.md).