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Scrollbar


A typical vertical scrollbar
(from Windows XP)

A scrollbar is a graphical widget in a GUI with which continuous text, pictures or anything else can be "scrolled", i.e. viewed even if it does not fit into the space on a computer display. Usually designed as a long rectangular area on one or two sides of the viewing area, containing a bar that can be dragged to move the body of the document as well as two arrows on either end for precise adjustments. Additional functions may be found, such as zoom in/out buttons or various application-specific tools. Scrollbars can be viewed as a computer representation of a thumb.