If an application or a system component wants to get your attention, a notification will be shown at the top of the screen, or on your lock screen.

For example, if you get a new chat message or a new email, you will get a notification informing you. Chat notifications are given special treatment, and are represented by the individual contacts who sent you the chat messages.

Other notifications have selectable option buttons. To close one of these notifications without selecting one of its options, click the close button.

Clicking the close button on some notifications dismisses them. Others, like Rhythmbox or your chat application, will stay hidden in the notification list.

The notification list gives you a way to get back to your notifications when it is convenient for you. It appears when you click on the clock, or press Super+V. The notification list contains all the notifications that you have not acted upon or that permanently reside in it.

You can view a notification by clicking on it in the list. You can close the notification list by pressing Super+V again or Esc.

Click the Clear List button to empty the list of notifications.

If you are working on something and do not want to be bothered, you can switch off notifications.

When switched off, most notifications will not pop up at the top of the screen. Notifications will still be available in the notification list when you display it (by clicking on the clock, or by pressing Super+V), and they will start popping up again when you switch the switch back to on.

You can also disable or re-enable notifications for individual applications from the Notifications panel.

When your screen is locked, notifications appear on the lock screen. You can configure the lock screen to hide these notifications for privacy reasons.