terminology - collapse vs minimize

Is it right to use the word "Collapse" to describe what this button do or "Minimize" is more correct?

What the difference in meanings of words "collapse" and "minimize" in context of computer program interfaces?

Answer

UI engineering/design worldwide has already established the meaning of collapse and minimize, therefore we should not disagree with their established usage.

Anyway ...

1. 
   

   Minimize = to remove the window from the desktop and iconize it onto the menu bar or task bar, if it is not already iconized there.

   
   


2. 
   

   Collapse = to collapse the window such that only its title bar is visible, without moving the title bar.

   
   
   

In desktop replacements, the system menu bar or task bar may be replaced by an alternative iconization area, where the alternative iconization area could be

• a special iconization window


• a 2D projection of a 3D rotating cube


• a menu deck of various fanciful design and behaviour


• a sub-menu or sub-deck within the system iconization area or deck.


• a notification area that may sit on the system notification area, or detachable from it.

So that windows are iconized onto the alternative iconization area.

In the picture that you showed, clicking on that symbol would normally lead to minimization of the window.

Double clicking on the title bar is also the accepted tradition of toggling between maximizing and unmaximizing the window.

However, there are applications which would toggle between collapsing and uncollapsing its window rather than maximizing and unmaximizing it, when its title bar is double-clicked.