es:Desktop environment fi:Desktop environment fr:Desktop environment hu:Desktop environment it:Desktop environment ja:デスクトップ環境 pt:Desktop environment ru:Desktop environment uk:Desktop environment zh-hans:Desktop environment

A desktop environment (DE) is an implementation of the desktop metaphor made of a bundle of programs, which share a common graphical user interface (GUI).

A desktop environment bundles together a variety of components to provide common graphical user interface elements such as icons, toolbars, wallpapers, and desktop widgets. Additionally, most desktop environments include a set of integrated applications and utilities. Most importantly, desktop environments provide their own window manager, which can however usually be replaced with another compatible one.

The user is free to configure their GUI environment in any number of ways. Desktop environments simply provide a complete and convenient means of accomplishing this task. Note that users are free to mix-and-match applications from multiple desktop environments. For example, a Plasma user may install and run GNOME applications such as the Epiphany web browser, should they prefer it over KDE Konqueror web browser. One drawback of this approach is that many applications provided by desktop environment projects rely heavily upon the libraries underlying the respective desktop environment. As a result, installing applications from a range of desktop environments will require installation of a larger number of dependencies. Users seeking to conserve disk space often avoid such mixed environments, or choose alternatives which do depend on only few external libraries.

Furthermore, applications provided by desktop environments tend to integrate better with their native environments. Superficially, mixing environments with different widget toolkits will result in visual discrepancies (that is, interfaces will use different icons and widget styles). In terms of usability, mixed environments may not behave similarly (e.g. single-clicking versus double-clicking icons; drag-and-drop functionality) potentially causing confusion or unexpected behavior.

List of desktop environments

Officially supported

Unofficially supported

Custom window manager

Some desktop environments running in Xorg support using a non-default window manager, such as i3.

• LXDE#Use a different window manager

• LXQt#Use a different window manager

• MATE#Use a different window manager

• Plasma#Use a different window manager

• Xfce#Use a different window manager

Custom environments

Desktop environments represent the simplest means of installing a complete graphical environment. However, users are free to build and customize their graphical environment in any number of ways if none of the popular desktop environments meet their requirements. Generally, building a custom environment involves selection of a suitable window manager or compositor, a taskbar and a number of applications (a minimalist selection usually includes a terminal emulator, file manager, and text editor).

Other components usually provided by desktop environments are:

• Application launcher

• Audio control

• Backlight control

• Compositor

• Default applications

• Display manager

• Logout dialogue

• Media control

• Notification daemon

• Polkit authentication agent

• Power management

• Screen capture

• Screen locker

• Screen temperature

• Wallpaper setter