What the difference between the 2 menu icons: 3-dots (kebab) and 3-lines (hamburger)

What the difference (if there is any...) between these 2 menu icons?

1) 3 lines (a.k.a burger icon)

2) 3 dots (a.k.a kebab icon)

Answer

Generally speaking they are used to open different types of menu.

• The 'burger' is used to open a 'burger menu', which is presented as a drawer that appears from the side of the screen and occupies most of the screen;


• The 'kebab' (three vertical dots), which originated in Google's Material Design languge, is designed to open a smaller inline menu from a button or other control.

In terms of icon naming specifically, Google refers to the burger menu as "menu" and to the 'kebab', vertical or horizontal, as either "more horiz" or "more vert".

Here's a good demo from Luke Wroblewski of kebab and other menu options: