Why Menus Are Called Hamburger Buttons

The iconic three-line icon found in apps is officially called a hamburger button. Designers chose this name because the three horizontal lines resemble the top bun, meat patty, and bottom bun of a hamburger.

Created by designer Norm Cox in 1981, this simple icon was intended to be a list menu that looked like a stack of items. Users found it intuitive because it acted as a container for hidden options. Over time, the name stuck as a playful nickname within the tech industry. It remains one of the most recognized symbols in modern software design despite its strange name.