You can display many windows at the same time on your desktop. Your windows are displayed in subdivisions of your desktop that are called workspaces. A workspace is a discrete area in which you can work.
Every workspace on the desktop contains the same desktop background, the same panels, and the same menus. However, you can run different applications, and open different windows in each workspace. You can display only one workspace at a time on your desktop but you can have windows open in other workspaces.
Workspaces enable you to organize the desktop when you run many applications at the same time. When your current workspace becomes crowded with windows, you can move your work to another workspace. You can also switch to another workspace then start more applications.
Workspaces are displayed in the Workspace Switcher applet. In Figure 2.4, Workspace Switcher contains four workspaces. The first three workspaces contain open windows. The last workspace does not contain currently active windows.
You can switch between workspaces in the following ways:
In Workspace Switcher, click on the workspace where you want to work.
Press Ctrl+Alt+right arrow to switch to the workspace on the right of the current workspace.
Press Ctrl+Alt+left arrow to switch to the workspace on the left of the current workspace.