Why did the App Bar/Photo attach icon disappear from my text message/iMsg screen? iOS 15.7.6

Text message app bar is gone, iOS 15.7.6

I was not able to reply to this question, asked previously, because the discussion was flagged 'looks like no one's answered in a while...'. So here is a new thread.

I noticed my 'App Bar', to attach

'PHOTOS/APP STORE/MUSIC/IMAGES/etc.'

that usually sits right under where I type text messages was gone. Every time I wanted to attach a photo from my library, to a txt or iMsg, I had to choose the camera icon, and then select my photos from the upper left. I was annoyed that the 'Spectrum Photo Flower' icon was no longer there, under the text field, along with all the other ones.

Turns out, the little gray 'A' icon (in the style of the App Store) that's right next to the camera icon, is a show/hide that toggles the app bar. The camera icon is on the far left, and the SHOW/HIDE icon for the app bar is next to it.

I'm sure there are going to be some derogatory remarks, but I had no idea touching that 'A' icon did that. In fact, if I'm honest, I never even noticed it was there. I guess I 'saw it', but since I didn't know its purpose and never used it, it never registered.

If your app bar is gone, there are two ways you can bring it back.

1) If it's gone 'permanently', and it doesn't show up when you txt any recipient, touch the gray 'A', and it will come back.

2) If you're annoyed that the App Bar/Photo attach icon disappears when you revert back to your QWERTY keyboard after using your emojis, you can bring it back by SWIPING DOWN and hiding the keyboard. Hiding the keyboard will bring back your 'PHOTOS/APP STORE/MUSIC/IMAGES/etc.' convenience menu.