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Your "File" Menu Isn't About Files

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Why This Matters

This article highlights the disconnect between the traditional 'File' menu label and its actual functionality in modern apps, emphasizing the importance of intuitive naming for better user experience. It urges developers to reconsider menu labels to better reflect the app's core purpose, which can improve usability and reduce confusion for consumers.

Key Takeaways

What is up with calling the first app menu item "File" even though the items do nothing related to actual files?

💡 tl;dr – Please consider opting for something better than calling your first menu item "File".

Let's dive into a couple of apps on my MacBook and have a look at the actual things you can do in those "File" menus, and probably settle on a better alternative name for it.

Sit back, as I have a total of 35 apps to go through.

At the very end, there are some honorable mentions which either use "File" correctly or break this pattern and name the first menu what the items actually imply.

1Password

"File" – You could argue that Items are files, but are they? You import and export files, ok, but what am I actually importing and exporting? Right, passwords!

Suggestion – "Password"

Automator

"File" – You are creating and opening files, so I guess this passes, but anyway, I think we can improve this.

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