# Three bar icon should really be two different icons

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/three-bar-icon-should-really-be-two-different-icons/304437>\
**Category:** UX\
**Tags:** sidebar\
**Created:** [April 18, 2024, 11:24am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/three-bar-icon-should-really-be-two-different-icons/304437 "2024-04-18T11:24:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![jidanni](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jidanni/32/291938_2.png) [@jidanni](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jidanni)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 11:24am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/three-bar-icon-should-really-be-two-different-icons/304437/1 "2024-04-18T11:24:31Z")

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You know those three bars in the upper left corner,

 ![Screenshot 2024-04-18 19.19.52](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/4/6/b/46b4fbee7df15f4037912522c4af7a52dcd4d308.png)  
Well normal users all know that it has two functions, to make the sidebar slide one way, and also make the sidebar slide the other way, all depending on sidebar state.

But we other abnormal users always have to click it a couple of times to get a hang of it. Furthermore a few days later we forget and well, go clicking it again…

I have a proposal: use slightly different icons in the two different states!

Yes, this is a common icon on the web. But Discourse could lead the way to making it more user friendly.

In fact, I do believe it is the single remaining “booby trapped” multi-functional icon.

So wicked that it does the opposite half the time… Can’t think of any other like it.

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