Why the Mac menu bar sits at the top of the screen, not in each window

Why is the menu bar at the top on a Mac?

Because the top edge of the screen is the easiest place to hit with a pointer. The pointer stops at the edge, so you can throw it upward and land on the menu bar every time, without aiming. A menu inside a window has edges on every side that you can overshoot. This idea is known as Fitts's law, and the Mac has used it since 1984.

Why does the menu bar change when I switch apps?

On a Mac, menus belong to the app, not the window. The menu bar shows the front app's name and menus. That is also why an app can stay open with no windows: its menus are still there, ready to make a new one. See close a window versus quit an app.

Where does the design fall short?

• On large or several displays, the menu bar can be far from the window you are using.
• Clicking a menu only works for the front app, so you must click into a window first.
• On notched MacBooks, long menus compete with icons for room. See the notch.

How do I use menus without travelling up there?

Press ⇧ ⌘ / and type the command's name, which searches every menu of the front app. See find any menu command. Or reach the menu bar with ⌃ F2: menus by keyboard.

Hide it when you do not need it: auto hide the menu bar.