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Gmail (for instance) shows this dotted widget next to the email items to hint that you can drag'n'drop them.

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Is there a generally recognized name for this?

Grab bar? Handle? (this sounds too generic)

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    I instantly though t "Handle" but could be wrong... Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 10:50
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    Personally, I'd call it drag-and-drop indicator or something similar, maybe prefixed with dotted. I assume it's to describe it in some kind of documentation, so in my opinion, the safest bet is to be as thorough and unambiguous as possible. Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 12:35
  • @MrE.Upvoter That might get some upvotes as an answer. Mine certainly. Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 12:43
  • @MrE.Upvoter Actually, I was trying to squeeze some usage guidelines for this sort of UX out of google, and couldn't find a decent wording for the query. Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 12:46
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    There is an existing question about this on UX: What do you call embedded dotts/lines which indicate sliding in GUI? Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 19:48

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According to the Microsoft Manual of Style (4th edition), the correct term is "move handle."

In the user interface of various programs, a handle is an element used to move or size an object. Use move handle or sizing handle. Do not use size handle, grab handle, little box, or similar phrases.

While "move handle" probably isn't self-evident to the average user by itself, the context should be sufficient, e.g. "Click the move handle next to the message, and then drag it to the Trash icon."

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  • Microsoft? Standards? Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 21:05
  • @Octopus Yeah, I know. Compared to to some of the other style manuals out there for technical writing, the current version of the MS manual is actually very good though. It's gone through a few iterations, and the current version is pretty well thought out. Commented Jun 13, 2015 at 9:52
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The grocery shopping app "Out of Milk" calls it a "grippy" when explaining its use to its users. I found this thread after coming across the term there and searching for it on Google.

That the term seems to have been independently invented both here and there makes it a good candidate for general adoption.

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    But the fact you were searching for it kind of eludes to how unintuitive "grippy" may be. :) Commented Dec 18, 2014 at 5:38

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