A toolbar operates in a graphical user interface environment, where it functions as a repository of selectable buttons for desktop or application functions. The toolbar is positioned as a horizontal or vertical row. By selecting and clicking on a button within the toolbar, the particular task is activated.

There are a myriad tasks that can be activated using toolbars, such as saving or printing a document or moving pages forwards or backwards within a Web browser. Customization of toolbars is easy to accomplish, allowing the user to construct a toolbar that suits their specific needs. The toolbar is a standard feature of word processing, spreadsheets, and many other types of application programs. In addition, a burgeoning software development industry exists to supply supplementary toolbars to address very specific functions. For example, toolbars as portals to news, weather and sports groups, search engines, and completion of forms such as income tax, are available for purchase from numerous vendors.