By default toolbars in KDE programs are on top of the window and elements are represented by text and icon. When toolbar is moved to the vertical position (left / right side of the window) then it's to wide. Text should also be presented vertically (or maybe give users ability to choose). I set toolbar to only show icons of elements, then put toolbars in most programs to the left side. The problem is that not every element that can be placed on toolbar have icon and in such case there is text presented. When toolbar is horizontal it's not problem, but with vertical toolbar such elements expands with. It looks ugly, and gets to much space for toolbar. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Open Dolphin or other KDE program with standard toolbar. 2. Move toolbar to the left or right side of the window. 3. See what happens. Actual Results: Toolbar is to wide because text is presented horizontally even on vertical toolbars. Expected Results: Width of vertical toolbar should be the same as height of horizontal toolbar and this would happen if on vertical text also were presented vertically. I sure it's a bug rather than a wish. A good example of how this might look like is Kate with panel that have icon and text, but text is presented vertically and there is no loss of space. I'm using show/hide hidden files in Dolphin but if put such button on toolbar (and toolbar is on the left side the of window because I have panoramic screen so I try to save vertical space where I can) because it it's to much of working area.
Created attachment 80608 [details] only icons on vertical toolbar This looks like nice, because every element has icon.
Created attachment 80609 [details] only icons (but with element that has no icon) on vertical toolbar You see what happens when I put element that has no icon. Toolbar gets to wide instead of presenting text vertically so it could fit with width of icons.
Created attachment 80610 [details] icons and text on vertical toolbar This is the worst…
Created attachment 80611 [details] Kate looks better I know it's not the same. You can't choose to show only icons with those elements on the left (or those on bottom). But this this is what I meant.
Created attachment 80612 [details] how this could work (made with KolourPaint :-) ) – compare it with second attachment
Toolbars are layouted by the Qt widgets library. Please report this wish directly to Qt developers via https://bugreports.qt-project.org/ Btw, the sidebar in Kate is not a toolbar, it cannot be moved or combined with other toolbars.