A Window's Size

One of the most visible characteristics that identifies a window is its size. This allows the operating system to manage the available space on the screen and to know how much space each application is using. Some windows have a fixed size while the size of others can change. This aspect is controlled by both the operating system and the programmer who created the window. If the window's size can be changed by you, the window is said to be resizable. Once again, keep in mind that it is the programmer, in accordance with the operating system, who decided whether a window can be resized (this means that the person who created a window had the ability to make sure that the window would never be resized). A programmer can also decide how much a window can be resized by setting the minimum and maximum dimensions. For example, you cannot enlarge the FreeCell application beyond the maximum width of 8 cards:

The size of a window is characterized by two values: its width and its height:




We mention these aspects of the dimensions only for references. Unless you are a programmer, you will never be concerned with the values of the width and/or the height of a window.
Most windows that display the Minimize and the Maximize buttons can be resized, but this is only an indication. To resize a window, first decide whether you want to enlarge, narrow, heighten, or shorten it. Then, position the mouse on either the upper or the lower borders until a vertical short line with double arrows appears, then click and drag in the direction of your choice. To widen or shrink a window, position the mouse on either the left or the right borders until a horizontal narrow line with double arrows appears, then click and drag in the direction of your choice. The last two techniques allow you to resize a window on one dimension, either vertically or horizontally. Fortunately, you can resize a window on two dimensions at the same time. Position your mouse on one of the corners and drag the short diagonal line in the direction of your choice.
Notice that you can resize a resizable window using any of its four borders or any of its four corners.