"Show desktop" button in task bar, xfce (debian 9)
 

There does not seem to be one present, nor is there one I can find in the task bar config panel (that I can find at least..)

This is a common feature in windows 7, I think it was a little rectangle at the end of the task bar all the way to the right, click it and all the windows open are hidden, click again and they are shown again. It does NOT minimize open windows (that could be very annoying.. having to go back and click each one to open them again)

I thought this was a feature avilable to some desktop in linux, but I don't remember which one, if it actually does exist.

So, does it exist in xfce? Thanks

Just go to the Panel settings and add it as an item. It's an item that is literally called "Show Desktop".

Or you could ignore the inefficient Windows way of doing things, and just use the Workspace switcher to go to an empty workspace. XFCE4 has a lot of items which are of dubious use (like "Show Desktop"), but it's still nice that they include them because some people will have found them to their liking.

right, Just switch to a empty desktop and switch back, you think I would have realized this option on my own.... thanks.