active window

In graphical operating systems, the window containing the program actually in use at any given time. Usually, active windows are easily identified by the use of colour schemes that assign a different colour to the window's title bar (a thin strip along the top of each window bearing the name of the window's specific program or function) from that of the title bars of inactive windows.

On a true multitasking system, each window may represent an active program, but the active window is the one into which the user may enter data. A user might, for example, be typing a document into a word processor in the active window while in the background other programs back up files or sort data in a database. In some windows systems the active window is also referred to as the window in (or with) focus.