Icons, shortcuts, and localization¶

Icons¶

Item("System icon", icon = MenuIcon.SFSymbol("doc.on.doc")) { copy() }
Item("PNG", icon = MenuIcon.Png(pngBytes, template = false)) { export() }
Item("File", icon = MenuIcon.File(iconPath)) { open() }
val vectorIcon = rememberMenuIconFrom(Icons.Default.Settings)

Vector icons use at least a 2x backing raster and are assigned the same logical point size as an SF Symbol by the native renderer. This keeps edges sharp on Retina displays without making Compose vectors appear larger than adjacent symbols. Auto-mirrored vectors follow the current layout direction. Template icons are tinted by AppKit; use template = false for multicolor artwork. SF Symbols are macOS-only. Swing supports PNG and file images and omits unsupported symbols.

Subtitles and badges depend on the capabilities of the running macOS release. Do not use them as the only way to communicate essential state.

Shortcuts¶

Custom shortcuts use Compose Key values:

Item("Export", MenuShortcut(Key.E, meta = true, shift = true)) { export() }

meta means Command on macOS. For cross-platform menus, choose modifiers conditionally if the same custom item should use Ctrl on Windows/Linux. Standard DSL items choose backend conventions for you: Command-based AppKit shortcuts on macOS and Ctrl/F-key conventions in Swing.

Avoid unmodified letter shortcuts: native menu accelerators can otherwise intercept normal typing.

Localization¶

Standard labels ship in every language listed by MenuBarLanguage. They follow the process locale; custom labels remain the application's responsibility. Override any standard title when product wording differs. If an application changes Locale.getDefault() at runtime, key the menu subtree by the selected locale so Compose resources are read again.