# What is hover intent?

> Hover intent is a short delay before a hover opens something, so passing the pointer by does not trigger it. Learn how NotchStar tunes it at the notch.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/hover-intent/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

Hover intent is a short wait before a hover opens something. The aim is to tell a pointer that stopped on purpose from one that is only passing through. Without it, every flick across the top of the screen would open the panel.

## Why it matters

The notch is at the top centre of the screen, where the pointer often travels on the way to the menu bar. A panel that opened at once would pop up all the time. Too long a wait makes the panel feel sluggish. The delay is a trade between the two.

## How NotchStar does it

Hover opens after an 80 millisecond intent delay. The open panel is 660 by 296 points. The code also treats SwiftUI's `onHover` only as a hint. When a panel resizes under a still pointer, SwiftUI can fire spurious exit and enter pairs, and that would open and shut the panel in a loop. So NotchStar confirms every enter and exit against the real pointer position.

## For users

You can also pin the notch open from its header, and the Quick Notes and Clipboard tools stay put while you use them. See the [Quick Notes page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/quick-notes/).

## Related

The window itself is an [NSPanel](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/nspanel/). For the idea of the app, read [what is a notch app](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/what-is-a-notch-app/).

## Keep reading.

- [What is NSPanel?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/nspanel/): NSPanel is the AppKit window class for auxiliary windows such as palettes and utility panels. Learn why a notch app uses a non activating one.
- [What is a notch app?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/notch-app/): A notch app is a Mac utility that puts a small panel of tools around the MacBook notch. Learn what it does and what it cannot do.
- [What is a notch app? A plain English guide](https://www.notchstar.com/guides/what-is-a-notch-app/): A notch app turns the dead space around the MacBook notch into a tiny control center. Here is how they work, what they do and what to watch for.
- [A scratchpad that is always one hover away](https://www.notchstar.com/features/quick-notes/): A plain text scratchpad in the notch that saves as you type. Jot down a number, a name or a to do without opening another app.

## More in Developer terms.

- [What is NSPanel?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/nspanel/): NSPanel is the AppKit window class for auxiliary windows such as palettes and utility panels. Learn why a notch app uses a non activating one.
- [What is SwiftUI?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/swiftui/): SwiftUI is Apple's framework for declaring an app's user interface in Swift code. Learn what it does, how it meets AppKit and how NotchStar uses both.
- [What is AppKit?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/appkit/): AppKit is Apple's older framework for building Mac apps with windows, menus and events. Learn what it covers and why SwiftUI apps still use it.
- [What is NSPasteboard?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/nspasteboard/): NSPasteboard is the AppKit object that moves data to and from the Mac clipboard. Learn how apps read it and why clipboard managers poll change count.
- [What is MediaRemote on macOS?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/mediaremote/): MediaRemote is a private Apple framework that reports what is playing on a Mac. Learn why it is restricted since macOS 15.4 and how notch apps work around it.
- [What does open source mean?](https://www.notchstar.com/glossary/open-source/): Open source software publishes its source code under a license that lets others read and change it. Learn the definition and how it differs from closed source.