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The app bar & header component is a dedicated bar at the top of the app canvas that can be customized to display important app-related functions, such as branding, top-level navigation, and access to app controls.
Use consistent app bar & header layouts to place key controls, such as in-app search, in a standard location throughout the UI.
Anatomy
The app bar & header can include a variety of elements. It can be configured in either of these ways:
App header: When configured as an app header, the component contains space for optional text, with minimal use of icons and buttons. Typically, it includes a screen title and back arrow.
App bar: When configured as an app bar, it can include icons, tabs, and buttons. Typical elements include an app icon and navigational options.
Either of these versions may also include app controls, such as in-app search and settings.
Two versions of an app header (top and middle) and one version of an app bar (bottom), featuring the following elements:
1. Back arrow
2. Screen title
3. Button
4. App controls
5. App icon
6. Primary navigation (tabs)
Specs – App bar
App bar with primary navigation – center aligned
App bar with primary navigation – left aligned
App bar with primary navigation – collapsed (drawer instead of tabs)
Specs – App header
App header with centered title
App header with single app control
App header with multiple app controls
App header with single button
App header with multiple buttons
App header with text overflow
App header with standalone tab bar
Customization
OEMs can reflect their brand by modifying the visual appearance of the app bar & header. Modifications might include:
Custom icons
Custom fonts
Setting the appearance of active, inactive, and disabled buttons
Setting button dimensions and placements
Design system provides guidance for customizing components using layout, color, typography, and sizing.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2024-07-23 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThe app bar & header component, implemented as "toolbar" in the Car UI Library, sits at the top of the app and can be customized to display branding, navigation, and app controls.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eIt can be configured as an app header, primarily displaying a screen title and back arrow, or as an app bar, which can include icons, tabs, and buttons for navigation and controls.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eOEMs can customize the app bar & header's visual appearance using runtime overlays to reflect their brand, modifying elements like icons, fonts, and button styles.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBoth app header and app bar can include app controls such as in-app search, settings, and other relevant functions for easy access.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nThe app bar \\& header component is a dedicated bar at the top of the app canvas that can be customized to display important app-related functions, such as branding, top-level navigation, and access to app controls.\n\nUse consistent app bar \\& header layouts to place key controls, such as in-app search, in a standard location throughout the UI.\n| **Note:** The app bar \\& header component is part of the Car UI Library, where it is implemented as \"toolbar.\" To use the app bar \\& header, you must [add the Car UI Library as a dependency](https://source.android.com/devices/automotive/hmi/car_ui/integrate) to your app.\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nAnatomy\n\nThe app bar \\& header can include a variety of elements. It can be configured in either of these ways:\n\n- **App header:** When configured as an app header, the component contains space for optional text, with minimal use of icons and buttons. Typically, it includes a screen title and back arrow.\n- **App bar:** When configured as an app bar, it can include icons, [tabs](/cars/design/automotive-os/components/tabs), and [buttons](/cars/design/automotive-os/components/buttons). Typical elements include an app icon and navigational options.\n\nEither of these versions may also include app controls, such as in-app search and settings.\nTwo versions of an app header (top and middle) and one version of an app bar (bottom), featuring the following elements: \n1. Back arrow \n2. Screen title \n3. Button \n4. App controls \n5. App icon \n6. Primary navigation (tabs)\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nSpecs -- App bar\n\nApp bar with primary navigation -- center aligned\n\nApp bar with primary navigation -- left aligned\n\nApp bar with primary navigation -- collapsed (drawer instead of tabs)\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nSpecs -- App header\n\nApp header with centered title\n\nApp header with single app control\n\nApp header with multiple app controls\n\nApp header with single button\n\nApp header with multiple buttons\n\nApp header with text overflow\n\nApp header with standalone tab bar\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nCustomization\n\nOEMs can reflect their brand by modifying the visual appearance of the app bar \\& header. Modifications might include:\n\n- Custom icons\n- Custom fonts\n- Setting the appearance of active, inactive, and disabled buttons\n- Setting button dimensions and placements\n\n| **Note:** To customize the app bar \\& header, which is an implementation of the Car UI library toolbar, OEMs must use runtime overlays. Runtime overlays are explained in the [Car UI Library Integration Guide](https://source.android.com/devices/automotive/hmi/car_ui).\n\n[Design system](/cars/design/automotive-os/design-system/overview) provides guidance for customizing components using layout, color, typography, and sizing.\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nExamples \nApp header in sign-in App header in playback \nApp bar App bar when content is scrolled"]]
