> AI agents: For documentation discovery and navigation, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).


# Status Bar

The [Status Bar](/api/extension-capabilities/extending-workbench#status-bar-item) sits at the bottom of the VS Code workbench and displays information and actions that relate to your workspace. Items are placed into two groups: Primary (left) and Secondary (right). Items that relate to the entire workspace (status, problems/warnings, sync) go on the left and items that are secondary or contextual (language, spacing, feedback) go on the right. Limit the number of items added, as other extensions contribute to the same area.

![Status Bar example](images/examples/status-bar.png)

**✔️ Do**

* Use short text labels
* Use icons only when necessary
* Use icons only for clear metaphors
* Place primary (global) items on the left
* Place secondary (contextual) items on the right

**❌ Don't**

* Add custom colors
* Add more than one icon (unless necessary)
* Add more than one item (unless necessary)

## Status Bar Items

![Status Bar Item](images/examples/status-bar-item.png)

*This example shows an item contributed by the GitHub Pull Requests and Issues extension. It relates to the entire workspace, so it is placed on the left.*

### Progress Status Bar item

When needing to show discreet progress (progress happening in the background), it's recommended to show a Status Bar item with the loading icon (you can also add spin animation). If progress needs to be elevated for user attention, we recommend moving to a progress notification.

![Status Bar Progress](images/examples/status-bar-progress.png)

*This example shows a progress Status Bar item that is discreet.*


### Error and Warning Status Bar Items

If you need to show an item that is highly visible for warning or error purposes, you can configure a Status Bar Item to use a warning or error background color. Only use this pattern as a last resort and only for special cases given their prominence in the Status Bar.

![Status Bar Error](images/examples/status-bar-error.png)

*This example uses the error Status Bar Item for showing a blocking error in the file.*

![Status Bar Warning](images/examples/status-bar-warning.png)

*This example uses the warning Status Bar Item for showing a warning in the file.*

## Links

* [Status Bar Item API reference](/api/references/vscode-api#StatusBarItem)
* [Status Bar extension sample](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-extension-samples/tree/main/statusbar-sample)