Navigation & Inputs · Navigation
Top App Bar
also known as App bar, Header bar, Action bar
The top app bar sits across the top of a screen and provides content and actions related to the current view, such as the screen title, a navigation icon, and a few important buttons. On mobile it often includes a back or menu icon on the left and action icons on the right. It anchors the user and keeps common tasks within reach.
Don't confuse it with
An app bar is the primary top-of-screen header (title plus a few actions); a toolbar is a more generic strip of action buttons that can appear anywhere. A navigation bar focuses on switching between sections rather than the current screen's title and actions.
In the wild
Gmail's mobile header showing the menu icon, search, and account avatar.