# 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.

Page: https://www.appetiteui.com/glossary/context-menu. Context menu on iOS and Android: long press menus. Also called Long press menu, Popup menu, 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.

## iOS and Android

|  | iOS | Android (Material 3) | 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

1. [Apple Human Interface Guidelines: Menus](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/menus)
2. [Material Design 3: Menus](https://m3.material.io/components/menus/overview)
3. [Material Components for Android: Menu](https://github.com/material-components/material-components-android/blob/master/docs/components/Menu.md)

## Related

- Docs: [Context Menu](https://www.appetiteui.com/docs/context-menu)
- Docs: [Dropdown](https://www.appetiteui.com/docs/dropdown)
- Glossary: [Action sheet](https://www.appetiteui.com/glossary/action-sheet)
- Glossary: [Liquid Glass](https://www.appetiteui.com/glossary/liquid-glass)
- Glossary: [List row](https://www.appetiteui.com/glossary#list-row)