GTK+ 3 Reference Manual

This document is for the GTK+ 3 library, version 3.24.22 . The latest versions can be found online at https://developer.gnome.org/gtk3/. If you are looking for the older GTK+ 2 series of libraries, see https://developer.gnome.org/gtk2/.

I. GTK+ Overview
  Getting Started with GTK+
    Basics
    Packing
    Building user interfaces
    Building applications
      A trivial application
      Populating the window
      Opening files
      An application menu
      A preference dialog
      Adding a search bar
      Adding a side bar
      Properties
      Header bar
    Custom Drawing
  Mailing lists and bug reports — Getting help with GTK+
  Common Questions — Find answers to common questions in the GTK+ manual
  The GTK+ Drawing Model — The GTK+ drawing model in detail
  The GTK+ Input and Event Handling Model — GTK+ input and event handling in detail
II. GTK+ Widgets and Objects
  Object Hierarchy
  Widget Gallery
  Application support
    GtkApplication — Application class
    GtkApplicationWindow — GtkWindow subclass with GtkApplication support
    GtkActionable — An interface for widgets that can be associated with actions
  Interface builder
    GtkBuilder — Build an interface from an XML UI definition
    GtkBuildable — Interface for objects that can be built by GtkBuilder
  Windows
    GtkWindow — Toplevel which can contain other widgets
    GtkDialog — Create popup windows
    GtkMessageDialog — A convenient message window
    GtkAboutDialog — Display information about an application
    GtkAssistant — A widget used to guide users through multi-step operations
    GtkInvisible — A widget which is not displayed
    GtkOffscreenWindow — A toplevel to manage offscreen rendering of child widgets
    GtkWindowGroup — Limit the effect of grabs
  Layout Containers
    GtkBox — A container for packing widgets in a single row or column
    GtkGrid — Pack widgets in rows and columns
    GtkRevealer — Hide and show with animation
    GtkListBox — A list container
    GtkFlowBox — A container that allows reflowing its children
    GtkStack — A stacking container
    GtkStackSwitcher — A controller for GtkStack
    GtkStackSidebar — An automatic sidebar widget
    GtkActionBar — A full width bar for presenting contextual actions
    GtkHeaderBar — A box with a centered child
    GtkOverlay — A container which overlays widgets on top of each other
    GtkButtonBox — A container for arranging buttons
    GtkPaned — A widget with two adjustable panes
    GtkLayout — Infinite scrollable area containing child widgets and/or custom drawing
    GtkNotebook — A tabbed notebook container
    GtkExpander — A container which can hide its child
    GtkOrientable — An interface for flippable widgets
    GtkAspectFrame — A frame that constrains its child to a particular aspect ratio
    GtkFixed — A container which allows you to position widgets at fixed coordinates
  Display Widgets
    GtkLabel — A widget that displays a small to medium amount of text
    GtkImage — A widget displaying an image
    GtkSpinner — Show a spinner animation
    GtkInfoBar — Report important messages to the user
    GtkProgressBar — A widget which indicates progress visually
    GtkLevelBar — A bar that can used as a level indicator
    GtkStatusbar — Report messages of minor importance to the user
    GtkAccelLabel — A label which displays an accelerator key on the right of the text
  Buttons and Toggles
    GtkButton — A widget that emits a signal when clicked on
    GtkCheckButton — Create widgets with a discrete toggle button
    GtkRadioButton — A choice from multiple check buttons
    GtkToggleButton — Create buttons which retain their state
    GtkLinkButton — Create buttons bound to a URL
    GtkMenuButton — A widget that shows a popup when clicked on
    GtkSwitch — A “light switch” style toggle
    GtkScaleButton — A button which pops up a scale
    GtkVolumeButton — A button which pops up a volume control
    GtkLockButton — A widget to unlock or lock privileged operations
    GtkModelButton — A button that uses a GAction as model
  Numeric and Text Data Entry
    GtkEntry — A single line text entry field
    GtkEntryBuffer — Text buffer for GtkEntry
    GtkEntryCompletion — Completion functionality for GtkEntry
    GtkScale — A slider widget for selecting a value from a range
    GtkSpinButton — Retrieve an integer or floating-point number from the user
    GtkSearchEntry — An entry which shows a search icon
    GtkSearchBar — A toolbar to integrate a search entry with
    GtkEditable — Interface for text-editing widgets
  Multiline Text Editor
    Text Widget Overview — Overview of GtkTextBuffer, GtkTextView, and friends
    GtkTextIter — Text buffer iterator
    GtkTextMark — A position in the buffer preserved across buffer modifications
    GtkTextBuffer — Stores attributed text for display in a GtkTextView
    GtkTextTag — A tag that can be applied to text in a GtkTextBuffer
    GtkTextTagTable — Collection of tags that can be used together
    GtkTextView — Widget that displays a GtkTextBuffer
  Tree, List and Icon Grid Widgets
    Tree and List Widget Overview — Overview of GtkTreeModel, GtkTreeView, and friends
    GtkTreeModel — The tree interface used by GtkTreeView
    GtkTreeSelection — The selection object for GtkTreeView
    GtkTreeViewColumn — A visible column in a GtkTreeView widget
    GtkTreeView — A widget for displaying both trees and lists
    GtkTreeView drag-and-drop — Interfaces for drag-and-drop support in GtkTreeView
    GtkCellView — A widget displaying a single row of a GtkTreeModel
    GtkIconView — A widget which displays a list of icons in a grid
    GtkTreeSortable — The interface for sortable models used by GtkTreeView
    GtkTreeModelSort — A GtkTreeModel which makes an underlying tree model sortable
    GtkTreeModelFilter — A GtkTreeModel which hides parts of an underlying tree model
    GtkCellLayout — An interface for packing cells
    GtkCellArea — An abstract class for laying out GtkCellRenderers
    GtkCellAreaBox — A cell area that renders GtkCellRenderers into a row or a column
    GtkCellAreaContext — Stores geometrical information for a series of rows in a GtkCellArea
    GtkCellRenderer — An object for rendering a single cell
    GtkCellEditable — Interface for widgets that can be used for editing cells
    GtkCellRendererAccel — Renders a keyboard accelerator in a cell
    GtkCellRendererCombo — Renders a combobox in a cell
    GtkCellRendererPixbuf — Renders a pixbuf in a cell
    GtkCellRendererProgress — Renders numbers as progress bars
    GtkCellRendererSpin — Renders a spin button in a cell
    GtkCellRendererText — Renders text in a cell
    GtkCellRendererToggle — Renders a toggle button in a cell
    GtkCellRendererSpinner — Renders a spinning animation in a cell
    GtkListStore — A list-like data structure that can be used with the GtkTreeView
    GtkTreeStore — A tree-like data structure that can be used with the GtkTreeView
  Menus, Combo Box, Toolbar
    GtkComboBox — A widget used to choose from a list of items
    GtkComboBoxText — A simple, text-only combo box
    GtkMenu — A menu widget
    GtkMenuBar — A subclass of GtkMenuShell which holds GtkMenuItem widgets
    GtkMenuItem — The widget used for item in menus
    GtkRadioMenuItem — A choice from multiple check menu items
    GtkCheckMenuItem — A menu item with a check box
    GtkSeparatorMenuItem — A separator used in menus
    GtkToolShell — Interface for containers containing GtkToolItem widgets
    GtkToolbar — Create bars of buttons and other widgets
    GtkToolItem — The base class of widgets that can be added to GtkToolShell
    GtkToolPalette — A tool palette with categories
    GtkToolItemGroup — A sub container used in a tool palette
    GtkSeparatorToolItem — A toolbar item that separates groups of other toolbar items
    GtkToolButton — A GtkToolItem subclass that displays buttons
    GtkMenuToolButton — A GtkToolItem containing a button with an additional dropdown menu
    GtkToggleToolButton — A GtkToolItem containing a toggle button
    GtkRadioToolButton — A toolbar item that contains a radio button
    GtkPopover — Context dependent bubbles
    GtkPopoverMenu — Popovers to use as menus
  Selector Widgets and Dialogs
    GtkColorChooser — Interface implemented by widgets for choosing colors
    GtkColorButton — A button to launch a color selection dialog
    GtkColorChooserWidget — A widget for choosing colors
    GtkColorChooserDialog — A dialog for choosing colors
    GtkFileChooser — File chooser interface used by GtkFileChooserWidget and GtkFileChooserDialog
    GtkFileChooserButton — A button to launch a file selection dialog
    GtkFileChooserNative — A native file chooser dialog, suitable for “File/Open” or “File/Save” commands
    GtkFileChooserDialog — A file chooser dialog, suitable for “File/Open” or “File/Save” commands
    GtkFileChooserWidget — A file chooser widget
    GtkFileFilter — A filter for selecting a file subset
    GtkFontChooser — Interface implemented by widgets displaying fonts
    GtkFontButton — A button to launch a font chooser dialog
    GtkFontChooserWidget — A widget for selecting fonts
    GtkFontChooserDialog — A dialog for selecting fonts
    GtkPlacesSidebar — Sidebar that displays frequently-used places in the file system
  Ornaments
    GtkFrame — A bin with a decorative frame and optional label
    GtkSeparator — A separator widget
  Scrolling
    GtkScrollbar — A Scrollbar
    GtkScrolledWindow — Adds scrollbars to its child widget
    GtkScrollable — An interface for scrollable widgets
  Printing
    GtkPrintOperation — High-level Printing API
    GtkPrintContext — Encapsulates context for drawing pages
    GtkPrintSettings — Stores print settings
    GtkPageSetup — Stores page setup information
    GtkPaperSize — Support for named paper sizes
    GtkPrinter — Represents a printer
    GtkPrintJob — Represents a print job
    GtkPrintUnixDialog — A print dialog
    GtkPageSetupUnixDialog — A page setup dialog
  Shortcuts Overview
    GtkShortcutsWindow — Toplevel which shows help for shortcuts
    GtkShortcutsSection — Represents an application mode in a GtkShortcutsWindow
    GtkShortcutsGroup — Represents a group of shortcuts in a GtkShortcutsWindow
    GtkShortcutsShortcut — Represents a keyboard shortcut in a GtkShortcutsWindow
  Miscellaneous
    GtkAdjustment — A representation of an adjustable bounded value
    GtkCalendar — Displays a calendar and allows the user to select a date
    GtkDrawingArea — A widget for custom user interface elements
    GtkGLArea — A widget for custom drawing with OpenGL
    GtkEventBox — A widget used to catch events for widgets which do not have their own window
    GtkHandleBox — a widget for detachable window portions
    GtkIMContextSimple — An input method context supporting table-based input methods
    GtkIMMulticontext — An input method context supporting multiple, loadable input methods
    GtkSizeGroup — Grouping widgets so they request the same size
    GtkTooltip — Add tips to your widgets
    GtkViewport — An adapter which makes widgets scrollable
    GtkAccessible — Accessibility support for widgets
  Abstract Base Classes
    GtkWidget — Base class for all widgets
    GtkContainer — Base class for widgets which contain other widgets
    GtkBin — A container with just one child
    GtkMenuShell — A base class for menu objects
    GtkRange — Base class for widgets which visualize an adjustment
    GtkIMContext — Base class for input method contexts
    GtkNativeDialog — Integrate with native dialogs
  Cross-process Embedding
    GtkPlug — Toplevel for embedding into other processes
    GtkSocket — Container for widgets from other processes
  Recently Used Documents
    GtkRecentManager — Managing recently used files
    GtkRecentChooser — Interface implemented by widgets displaying recently used files
    GtkRecentChooserDialog — Displays recently used files in a dialog
    GtkRecentChooserMenu — Displays recently used files in a menu
    GtkRecentChooserWidget — Displays recently used files
    GtkRecentFilter — A filter for selecting a subset of recently used files
  Choosing from installed applications
    GtkAppChooser — Interface implemented by widgets for choosing an application
    GtkAppChooserButton — A button to launch an application chooser dialog
    GtkAppChooserDialog — An application chooser dialog
    GtkAppChooserWidget — Application chooser widget that can be embedded in other widgets
  Gestures and event handling
    GtkEventController — Self-contained handler of series of events
    GtkEventControllerKey — Event controller for key events
    GtkEventControllerScroll — Event controller for scroll events
    GtkEventControllerMotion — Event controller for motion events
    GtkGesture — Base class for gestures
    GtkGestureSingle — Base class for mouse/single-touch gestures
    GtkGestureDrag — Drag gesture
    GtkGestureLongPress — "Press and Hold" gesture
    GtkGestureMultiPress — Multipress gesture
    GtkGesturePan — Pan gesture
    GtkGestureSwipe — Swipe gesture
    GtkGestureRotate — Rotate gesture
    GtkGestureZoom — Zoom gesture
    GtkGestureStylus — Gesture for stylus input
    GtkPadController — Controller for drawing tablet pads
  Deprecated
    GtkSymbolicColor — Symbolic colors
    GtkGradient — Gradients
    Resource Files — Deprecated routines for handling resource files
    GtkStyle — Deprecated object that holds style information for widgets
    GtkHScale — A horizontal slider widget for selecting a value from a range
    GtkVScale — A vertical slider widget for selecting a value from a range
    GtkTearoffMenuItem — A menu item used to tear off and reattach its menu
    GtkColorSelection — Deprecated widget used to select a color
    GtkColorSelectionDialog — Deprecated dialog box for selecting a color
    GtkHSV — A “color wheel” widget
    GtkFontSelection — Deprecated widget for selecting fonts
    GtkFontSelectionDialog — Deprecated dialog box for selecting fonts
    GtkHBox — A horizontal container box
    GtkVBox — A vertical container box
    GtkHButtonBox — A container for arranging buttons horizontally
    GtkVButtonBox — A container for arranging buttons vertically
    GtkHPaned — A container with two panes arranged horizontally
    GtkVPaned — A container with two panes arranged vertically
    GtkTable — Pack widgets in regular patterns
    GtkHSeparator — A horizontal separator
    GtkVSeparator — A vertical separator
    GtkHScrollbar — A horizontal scrollbar
    GtkVScrollbar — A vertical scrollbar
    GtkUIManager — Constructing menus and toolbars from an XML description
    GtkActionGroup — A group of actions
    GtkAction — A deprecated action which can be triggered by a menu or toolbar item
    GtkToggleAction — An action which can be toggled between two states
    GtkRadioAction — An action of which only one in a group can be active
    GtkRecentAction — An action of which represents a list of recently used files
    GtkActivatable — An interface for activatable widgets
    GtkImageMenuItem — A deprecated widget for a menu item with an icon
    GtkMisc — Base class for widgets with alignments and padding
    Stock Items — Prebuilt common menu/toolbar items and corresponding icons
    Themeable Stock Images — Manipulating stock icons
    GtkNumerableIcon — A GIcon that allows numbered emblems
    GtkArrow — Displays an arrow
    GtkStatusIcon — Display an icon in the system tray
    GtkThemingEngine — Theming renderers
    GtkAlignment — A widget which controls the alignment and size of its child
III. GTK+ Core Reference
  Main loop and Events — Library initialization, main event loop, and events
  Version Information — Variables and functions to check the GTK+ version
  Accelerator Groups — Groups of global keyboard accelerators for an entire GtkWindow
  Accelerator Maps — Loadable keyboard accelerator specifications
  Clipboards — Storing data on clipboards
  Drag and Drop — Functions for controlling drag and drop handling
  Settings — Sharing settings between applications
  Bindings — Key bindings for individual widgets
  Standard Enumerations — Public enumerated types used throughout GTK+
  Selections — Functions for handling inter-process communication via selections
  Testing — Utilities for testing GTK+ applications
  Filesystem utilities — Functions for working with GIO
IV. Theming in GTK+
  GTK+ CSS Overview — Overview of CSS in GTK+
  GTK+ CSS Properties — CSS Properties in GTK+
  GtkStyleContext — Rendering UI elements
  GtkCssProvider — CSS-like styling for widgets
  GtkStyleProvider — Interface to provide style information to GtkStyleContext
  GtkStyleProperties — Store for style property information
  GtkWidgetPath — Widget path abstraction
  GtkIconTheme — Looking up icons by name
V. Migrating from Previous Versions of GTK+
  Migrating from GTK+ 2.x to GTK+ 3
    Preparation in GTK+ 2.x
      Do not include individual headers
      Do not use deprecated symbols
      Use accessor functions instead of direct access
      Replace GDK_<keyname> with GDK_KEY_<keyname>
      Use GIO for launching applications
      Use cairo for drawing
    Changes that need to be done at the time of the switch
      Replace size_request by get_preferred_width/height
      Replace GdkRegion by cairo_region_t
      Replace GdkPixmap by cairo surfaces
      Replace GdkColormap by GdkVisual
      GdkDrawable is gone
      Event filtering
      Backend-specific code
      GtkPlug and GtkSocket
      The GtkWidget::draw signal
      GtkProgressBar orientation
      Check your expand and fill flags
      Scrolling changes
      GtkObject is gone
      GtkEntryCompletion signal parameters
      Resize grips
      Prevent mixed linkage
      Install GTK+ modules in the right place
  Theming changes
    Migrating themes
    Migrating theme engines
    Extending the CSS parser
    Using the CSS file format
    A checklist for widgets
    Parsing of custom resources
    Bonus points
  Migrating from libunique to GApplication or GtkApplication
    Uniqueness
    Commands and Messages
  Migrating from EggSMClient to GtkApplication
  Migrating from other containers to GtkGrid
    GtkBox versus GtkGrid: packing
    GtkBox versus GtkGrid: sizing
    GtkBox versus GtkGrid: spacing
  Migration Details Checklist
    Implement GtkWidget::popup_menu
    Use GdkEventExpose.region
    Test for modifier keys correctly
    Use named icons
  Migrating from one GTK+ 3 release to another
    Changes in GTK+ 3.2
    Changes in GTK+ 3.4
    Changes in GTK+ 3.6
    Changes in GTK+ 3.8
    Changes in GTK+ 3.10
    Changes in GTK+ 3.12
    Changes in GTK+ 3.14
    Changes in GTK+ 3.16
    Changes in GTK+ 3.18
    Changes in GTK+ 3.20
    Changes in GTK+ 3.22
VI. GTK+ Tools
  gtk3-demo — Demonstrate GTK+ widgets
  gtk3-demo-application — Demonstrate GtkApplication
  gtk3-widget-factory — Demonstrate GTK+ widgets
  gtk3-icon-browser — List themed icons
  gtk-query-immodules-3.0 — Input method module registration utility
  gtk-update-icon-cache — Icon theme caching utility
  gtk-encode-symbolic-svg — Symbolic icon conversion utility
  gtk-builder-tool — GtkBuilder file utility
  gtk-launch — Launch an application
  gtk-query-settings — Utility to print name and value of all GtkSettings properties
  broadwayd — Broadway display server
VII. GTK+ Platform Support
  Compiling the GTK+ libraries — How to compile GTK+ itself
  Compiling GTK+ Applications — How to compile your GTK+ application
  Running GTK+ Applications — How to run and debug your GTK+ application
  Using GTK+ on the X Window System — X11-specific aspects of using GTK+
  Using GTK+ on Windows — Windows-specific aspects of using GTK+
  Using GTK+ on Mac OS X — OS X-specific aspects of using GTK+
  Using GTK+ with Broadway — HTML-specific aspects of using GTK+
  Using GTK+ with Wayland — Wayland-specific aspects of using GTK+
Glossary
Index of all symbols
Annotation Glossary

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