What are the 4 icons at the top of Top of 7
The four icons at the top of Top of 7 represent core work states and controls in the tool’s kanban-style layout. They are designed to give teams a consistent, visual summary of focus, progress, and collaboration in a single glance. This guide explains each icon, its intended use, and practical ways you can use them to keep work and status signals clear and actionable.
Primary purpose of the Top of 7 UI
Top of 7 is a task and workflow canvas built around columns and cards. The four icons at the top provide quick access to global controls, status filters, and collaboration settings without requiring deep navigation. They sit in a persistent bar so users can adjust view and visibility across lists and cards, supporting both individual focus and team alignment.
Layout and behavior
These icons are typically arranged left to right in the top bar. Each icon maps to a distinct function: scope and focus, collaboration and mentions, search and filter, and workspace or board settings. Their persistent placement reduces cognitive load and supports rapid interaction whether you are working alone or with a distributed team.
Icon identities and roles
While product visuals can evolve, the four icons commonly represent:
- A pin, flag, or spotlight for Focus/Pinned items.
- A comment, mention, or bell for Activity/Notifications.
- A search magnifier for Filter and Quick Find.
- A cog, grid, or avatar menu for Settings/Workspace.
These roles are chosen to map closely with established UI patterns so users can transfer existing mental models and use muscle memory across sessions.
How teams use the top bar in practice
In day-to-day use, the icons support rapid triage and alignment. A product manager might pin the north-star card and filter by owner to prepare for a review. An engineer might open mentions to respond to questions and set focus to minimize distractions. A designer might adjust board-level visibility so stakeholders see only the relevant columns.
Typical feature mapping
| Icon role | Common label or tooltip | Typical action | User benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus/Pinning | Pin, flag, spotlight | Mark or filter to-dos to highlight priority | Reduces noise and sustains attention on key work |
| Activity/Mentions | Comments, bell, mentions | Open notifications, mentions, and recent updates | Keeps collaborators aware of comments and assignments |
| Search and filter | Magnifier | Filter cards by owner, label, status, or text | Enables fast discovery and scoped views |
| Settings or workspace | Cog, grid, or profile | Adjust board visibility, permissions, and preferences | Supports governance, layout, and team access control |
Design rationale and learnings
The placement and iconography are intended to reduce clicks for common tasks. Rather than opening side panels, users can toggle filters or open mentions in place. Consistent icon shapes across teams also make it easier to onboard new members and maintain shared expectations about visibility and control. Early observations suggest that teams who use the top bar intentionally see fewer status questions and faster standup alignment.
Best practices for using the top bar
- Pin the current sprint goal or north-star card during review sessions.
- Check mentions and activity first thing in standup to resolve blockers.
- Use filters to scope by owner, label, or status before planning work.
- Confirm workspace settings when setting up a new board to match audience and permissions.
When icons differ or evolve
If the product changes icon sets or adds context-specific controls, refer to the in-product tooltip and the help center for the most current mapping. Behavior can vary slightly by team configuration, so treat these icons as flexible conventions rather than fixed hardware labels.