Explained vs code layout 2026

Editor: The central area where you write and edit your code. You can open multiple files side-by-side or in a grid using Editor Groups. Activity Bar: The vertical bar on the far left (or right) containing icons to switch between views like the Explorer, Search, and Extensions. Primary Side Bar: Located next to the Activity Bar, this displays the content of the selected view (e.g., your project's file tree in the Explorer). Secondary Side Bar: An optional bar on the opposite side of the Primary Side Bar, often used for Copilot Chat or to view two different side bar items at once. Panel: The area below the Editor that houses the Integrated Terminal, Debug Console, Output, and Problems tabs. Status Bar: The thin strip at the bottom providing information about your project, such as the current Git branch, line/column numbers, and encoding.