# Theme (computing)

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Theme_(computing).md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_(computing)
> Source revision: 1334933557
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|Preset package containing graphical appearance and functionality details}}
thumb|The same GUI (using Qt) with three different themes
In computing, a '''theme''' is a preset package containing graphical appearance and functionality details. A theme usually comprises a set of shapes and colors for the [graphical control elements](/source/Graphical_control_element_(software)), the [window decoration](/source/window_decoration) and the [window](/source/window_(computing)). Themes are used to customize the [look and feel](/source/look_and_feel) of a piece of [computer software](/source/computer_software) or of an [operating system](/source/operating_system).

Also known as a '''skin''' (or ['''visual style'''](/source/Windows_XP_visual_styles) in [Windows XP](/source/Windows_XP))<ref>{{cite web|title=Visual Styles (Windows)|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb773187%28v=vs.85%29.aspx|work=[MSDN](/source/MSDN)|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=18 March 2013}}</ref> it is a custom graphical appearance preset package achieved by the use of a [graphical user interface](/source/graphical_user_interface) (GUI) that can be applied to specific [computer software](/source/computer_software), [operating system](/source/operating_system), and [website](/source/website)s to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users. As such, a skin can completely change the look and feel and navigation interface of a piece of [application software](/source/application_software) or operating system.

Software that is capable of having a skin applied is referred to as being '''skinnable''', and the process of writing or applying such a skin is known as '''skinning'''. Applying a skin changes a piece of software's look and feel—some skins merely make the program more aesthetically pleasing, but others can rearrange elements of the interface, potentially making the program easier to use.

==Use==
Themes are often used to change the look and feel of a wide range of things at once, which makes them much less [granular](/source/granularity) than allowing the user to set each option individually. For example, users might want the window-borders from a particular theme, but installing it would also alter the desktop background.

One method for dealing with this is to allow the user to select which parts of the theme they want to load; for example in Windows 98, users could load the background and screensaver from a theme, but leave the icons and sounds untouched.

==Themed systems==
===Operating systems===
;{{vanchor|Microsoft Windows}}
:[Microsoft Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows) first supported themes in a separately released add-on package for [Windows 95](/source/Windows_95) called [Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95](/source/Microsoft_Plus!). Themes were later included in [Windows 98](/source/Windows_98) as a built-in optional component; the [Microsoft Plus! 98](/source/Microsoft_Plus!) add-on package also includes support for themes as well. These operating systems, as well as [Windows Me](/source/Windows_Me), came with themes that customized [desktop backgrounds](/source/Computer_wallpaper), [icons](/source/Icon_(computing)), user interface colors, Windows sounds and [mouse cursor](/source/mouse_cursor)s.<ref>{{cite web|language=en|publisher=[Microsoft](/source/Microsoft)|title=Theme File Format (Windows)|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb773190(v=vs.85).aspx|date=2017-08-13|access-date=2017-09-17}}</ref> [Windows XP](/source/Windows_XP) expanded Windows theming support by adding [visual styles](/source/Windows_XP_visual_styles) and allowing each theme to specify one. Third-party software such as [WindowBlinds](/source/WindowBlinds), and [Desktop Architect](/source/Desktop_Architect) enhance theming capabilities. Support for custom themes can also be added by patching system files using third-party utilities, such as [https://www.syssel.net/hoefs/software_uxtheme.php?lang=en UltraUXThemePatcher] and [https://github.com/namazso/SecureUxTheme SecureUxTheme], which is not endorsed by Microsoft.
;{{vanchor|Linux}}
:[Linux](/source/Linux) operating systems may support themes depending on their [window manager](/source/window_manager)s and [desktop environment](/source/desktop_environment)s. [IceWM](/source/IceWM) uses themes to customize its taskbar, window borders, and time format. [Window Maker](/source/Window_Maker) can store colors for icons, menus, and window-borders in a theme, but this is independent of the wallpaper settings. [GNOME](/source/GNOME) and [KDE](/source/KDE) use two independent sets of themes: one to alter the appearance of user interface elements (such as buttons, [scroll bar](/source/scroll_bar)s or list elements), and another theme to customize the appearance of windows (such as, window borders and title bars).
;{{vanchor|macOS}}
:[macOS](/source/macOS) does not natively support themes. Third-party apps such as [Kaleidoscope](/source/Appearance_Manager) and [ShapeShifter](/source/ShapeShifter) may add this.
;{{vanchor|Android}}{{anchor|CyanogenMod|Android OS|Paranoid}}
: Although [Android](/source/Android_(operating_system)) does not support themes, the forked [CyanogenMod](/source/CyanogenMod) and its successor [LineageOS](/source/LineageOS) have native theme support. The CM theme engine is in turn used on many other forked Android ROMs, such as Paranoid Android.

===Apps===
[Firefox](/source/Firefox) and [Google Chrome](/source/Google_Chrome) either support or supported a form of theme. Firefox (and its sibling [Thunderbird](/source/Mozilla_Thunderbird)) supports themes either through ''lightweight themes'' (formerly [Personas](/source/Personas_(Firefox))).<ref name="moz-kb-themes">{{cite web|title=Use themes to change the look of Firefox|url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-themes-change-look-of-firefox|work=Mozilla Support|publisher=[Mozilla Foundation](/source/Mozilla_Foundation)|access-date=18 March 2013}}</ref> Google Chrome version 3.0 or later allows themes to alter the appearance of the browser.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://chrome.blogspot.com/2009/10/splash-of-color-to-your-browser-artist.html |title= A splash of color to your browser: Artist Themes for Google Chrome |author=Glen Murphy |publisher=Google Chrome Blog |date= October 5, 2009 |access-date=May 13, 2010}}</ref> [Internet Explorer 5](/source/Internet_Explorer_5) and [its immediate successor](/source/Internet_Explorer_6) allowed the background picture of their toolbars to be customized.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to Restore the Background Bitmap on the Internet Explorer Toolbars|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/224457|work=Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=18 March 2013|date=24 January 2007}}</ref>

The most popular skins are for [instant messaging](/source/instant_messaging) [client](/source/Client_(computing))s, [media center](/source/Home_theater_PC), and [media player software](/source/media_player_software), such as [Trillian](/source/Trillian_(instant_messenger)) and [Winamp](/source/Winamp), due to the association with fun that such programs try to encourage.

==Standard interface==
Some platforms support changing the standard interface, including most using the [X Window System](/source/X_Window_System). For those that do not, programs can add the functionality, like [WindowBlinds](/source/WindowBlinds) for [Microsoft Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows) and [ShapeShifter](/source/ShapeShifter) for [macOS](/source/macOS).

==Websites==
[[File:MediaWiki_1.44.0-wmf.4_source_editing_at_English_Wikipedia_screenshot.webp|thumb|upright=1.2|Example of customized theme (Timeless) in Wikipedia, [MediaWiki](/source/MediaWiki) is skinnable]]
Many websites are skinnable, particularly those that provide [social](/source/Social_media) capabilities. Some sites provide skins that make primarily cosmetic changes, while some—such as [H2G2](/source/H2G2)—offer skins that make major changes to page layout. As with standalone software interfaces, this is facilitated by the underlying technology of the website—[XML](/source/XML) and [XSLT](/source/XSLT), for instance, facilitate major changes of layout, while [CSS](/source/Cascading_Style_Sheets) can easily produce different visual styles.

==See also==
*[Aqua (user interface)](/source/Aqua_(user_interface))
*[Computer wallpaper](/source/Computer_wallpaper)
*[Industrial design](/source/Industrial_design)
*[Look and feel](/source/Look_and_feel)
*[User interface design](/source/User_interface_design)
*[Windows Aero](/source/Windows_Aero)
*[Windows XP visual styles](/source/Windows_XP_visual_styles)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Graphical user interfaces
Category:Software add-ons

[de:Skin (Computer)](/source/de%3ASkin_(Computer))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Theme (computing)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_(computing)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_(computing)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.