macOS is designed to mimic reading other media, where our eyes start in the top left and move to the right and then down. Naturally, the item designed to represent the core and top level of the Mac is the Apple logo.

I, Command

The Apple menu contains commands that information or actions tied to the whole Mac. For example, all of the commands related to the power state of the Mac are also in the Apple menu.

If You Crash & Burn

Because Apple is parent to all applications (it’s located to the left of the application menu), the Force Quit command appears here. If an application is not responding (i.e., showing the beachball cursor when mousing over its menus and windows), it’s impossible to click the Apple menu.

However, you can open or switch to any responsive application to access the Apple menu. Or, you can always use the keyboard shortcut for Force Quit: Command+Option+Escape. Wondering where the Escape key is? Just look at where it’s icon is pointing.

It’s Time to Go

At the bottom of the application menu is a command to quit the application. The equivalent system commands, whose shortcuts modify Command+Q (the universal quit command), are locking the screen or logging out of your user account.

These are actions you might take if you’re leaving your Mac and want to prevent other users from accessing your stuff. Like the Restart and Shut Down dialogs, this window asks whether you want to reopen windows next time you log in, enabling you to pick up where you left off.