Context menu
A context menu is a short list of actions that appears for the item a person touches and holds. iOS calls it a context menu, and Material 3 calls a similar list a dropdown menu.
Why it matters
A context menu keeps frequent actions close to the thing they act on without crowding the row with buttons. Because it is hidden until a long press, it can only hold shortcuts, never the only route to an action.
Labels carry the meaning: Apple asks for a verb or verb phrase, and for icons on all items of a group or none.
Context menu on iOS and Android
Also called Long press menu, Popup menu, Dropdown menu. The same idea in each system, with the values Appetite UI gives it.
| Value | iOS | Android | Appetite UI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Context menu and Menu | Dropdown menu | Context Menu |
| Item height in the file | 40 | None in the file | See below |
| Menu elevation | Glass material | 3 dp, Material Components popup elevation | See below |
In Appetite UI
Context Menu is 300 wide with 56 tall rows and a preview slot above the menu. It has no quick action row and no submenu, and the Pressed row paints bg/weak-50 where iOS paints glass.
Example
Touch and hold a message in a chat: the bubble lifts and a menu offers Reply, Copy and Delete, with Delete last and in the destructive color.
Common mistakes
- Hiding the only route to an action in a context menu. Offer it elsewhere as well.
- Labelling items with nouns. Use a verb, such as Share or Duplicate.
- Icons on some items only. Give all items in a group an icon, or none.
- Greying out every item and removing the menu. Keep it so people can read the commands.
Questions
What is the difference between a context menu and a dropdown menu?
A context menu opens from a touch and hold on an item and acts on it. A dropdown menu opens from a visible control, such as an overflow icon. Both are lists of commands.
Does Android have a context menu?
Yes, in code: a popup menu opened by a long press. Material 3 documents menus with a dropdown menu and an elevation of 3 dp in Material Components for Android; the Appetite UI file has no Material context menu.
Sources
The pages the facts above rest on, each read October 30, 2026.