This section contains a number of well known categories and suggestions on how to use them:
The list of Main Categories consists of those categories that every conforming desktop environment MUST support.
The list of Additional Categories provides categories that can be used to provide more fine grained information about the application.
The list of Reserved Categories containes categories that have a desktop-specific meaning.
Note that category names are case-sensitive.
By including one of the Main Categories in an application's desktop entry file, the application will be ensured that it will show up in a section of the application menu dedicated to this category. If multiple Main Categories are included in a single desktop entry file, the entry may appear more than once in the menu.
Category-based menus based on the Main Categories listed in this specification do not provide a complete ontology for all available applications. Category-based menu implementations SHOULD therefore provide a "catch-all" submenu for applications that cannot be appropriately placed elsewhere.
The table below lists all Main Categories.
| Main Category | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AudioVideo | Application for presenting, creating, or processing multimedia (audio/video) | |
| Audio | An audio application | Desktop entry must include AudioVideo as well |
| Video | A video application | Desktop entry must include AudioVideo as well |
| Development | An application for development | |
| Education | Educational software | |
| Game | A game | |
| Graphics | Application for viewing, creating, or processing graphics | |
| Network | Network application such as a web browser | |
| Office | An office type application | |
| Science | Scientific software | |
| Settings | Settings applications | Entries may appear in a separate menu or as part of a "Control Center" |
| System | System application, "System Tools" such as say a log viewer or network monitor | |
| Utility | Small utility application, "Accessories" |