ResizeHints

X windows can provide size hints which indicate restrictions as to how the window can be resized.

For example a window can specify a minimum size, a maximum size, or that the size must have a certain aspect ratio.

A window indicating that the maximum size is the same as the minimum size are fixed in size and thus cannot be resized and are always floating.

Whether size hints of a window is respected or not depends on several things, but it largely comes down to whether the client is floating or tiled. If the floating layout is used then that counts as the window being floating.

By default size hints for floating windows are respected, but size hints for tiled windows are not.

If the ResizeHints functionality is enabled then size hints for tiled windows are also respected.

If a client has the IgnoreSizeHints flag set then size hints for the window are ignored regardless of whether it is floating or not.

If a client has the RespectSizeHints flag set then size hints for the window are respected regardless of whether it is floating or not.

The IgnoreSizeHints flag takes precedence over the RespectSizeHints flag.

If the ResizeHints functionality is enabled then the RespectSizeHints flag has no added effect.

If a client has the IgnoreMinimumSizeHints flag set then only the minimum size hints of the window are ignored.

If the CenterSizeHintsClients functionality is enabled then windows that are subject to size hints when tiled will be centered within the tiled area (as opposed to being) placed in the top left corner.

Back to Functionality.