The Start menu, depending on the version of Windows you're using, can have three basic sections. The left-hand pane deals directly with launching applications.

Email Applications For Mac

Important applications are pinned to the top of the Start menu. Frequently used applications are listed next. At the bottom, there's a link to view All apps installed on your PC in either a hierarchical menu structure or alphabetically.

Mac Email Access

Clicking one of the pinned or frequently used applications, or clicking through the All apps menu lets you quickly launch any application loaded on your PC. Launchpad is the closest equivalent on the Mac. Is based on the popular application launcher used in iOS devices, such as the iPhone and iPad. When you use it, Launchpad replaces the Desktop with an overlay of large icons for each application installed on your Mac. Launchpad can display multiple pages of applications, which you can then drag the application icons around, put them in folders, or otherwise rearrange them however you like. Clicking on one of the application icons will launch the associated program.