Editing Window manager (section)

== Types ==
Window managers are often divided into three or more classes, which describe how windows are drawn and updated.

=== Compositing window managers ===
{{Main article|Compositing window manager}}

Compositing window managers let all windows be created and drawn separately and then put together and displayed in various 2D and 3D environments. The most advanced compositing window managers allow for a great deal of variety in interface look and feel, and for the presence of advanced 2D and 3D visual effects.

=== Stacking window managers ===
{{Main article|Stacking window manager}}

All window managers that have overlapping windows and are not compositing window managers are [[stacking window manager]]s, although it is possible that not all use the same methods. Stacking window managers allow windows to overlap by drawing background windows first, which is referred to as the [[painter's algorithm]]. Changes sometimes require that all windows be re-stacked or repainted, which usually involves redrawing every window. However, to bring a background window to the front usually only requires that one window be redrawn, since background windows may have bits of other windows painted over them, effectively erasing the areas that are covered.

=== Tiling window manager ===
{{Main article|Tiling window manager}}

Tiling window managers paint all windows on-screen by placing them side by side or above and below each other, so that no window ever covers another. Microsoft Windows 1.0 used tiling, and a variety of tiling window managers for [[X Window System|X]] are available, such as [[i3 (window manager)|i3]], [[awesome (window manager)|awesome]], and [[dwm]].

=== Dynamic window manager ===
{{Main article|Dynamic window manager}}

Dynamic window managers can dynamically switch between tiling or floating window layout. A variety of dynamic window managers for [[X Window System|X]] are available.