An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software
functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that
remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being
edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality
available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user
interface above the software application workspace to allow the user
ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the
selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is
persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level
functionality control or selects another object for editing.