Controls / The visual dictionary

Seek bar.

Moves playback to a chosen position in media.

Also calledscrubbertimeline scrubberplayhead control
01

See it in context

UI illustration

The track represents media duration, while its thumb shows the playhead. Buffered content and elapsed time can appear separately from the position that the user can change.

When to use it

Show elapsed and total time and update the playhead when people seek.

Know the difference

A progress bar only reports progress; a seek bar also changes playback position.

WebiOSiPadOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinux

Web

Use a native button for an action and an anchor for navigation. Preserve keyboard activation and a visible focus indicator.

iOS · iPadOS · Android

Provide a comfortable touch target, use familiar system symbols when appropriate, and show a clear pressed or selected state.

macOS · Windows · Linux

Keep pointer, keyboard, and focus behavior consistent. Common commands can additionally expose a menu item or keyboard shortcut.

Primary documentation for the pattern and its platform conventions.