user interface

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Wikipedia.

user interface

[′yü·zər ′in·tər‚fās]

(computer science)

The point at which a user or a user department or organization interacts with a computer system.

The part of an interactive computer program that sends messages to and receives instructions from a terminal user.

user interface

(UI) The aspects of a computer system or program which can be seen (or heard or otherwise perceived) by the human user, and the commands and mechanisms the user uses to control its operation and input data.

A graphical user interface emphasises the use of pictures for output and a pointing device such as a mouse for input and control whereas a command line interface requires the user to type textual commands and input at a keyboard and produces a single stream of text as output.

A user interface contrasts with, but is typically built on top of, an Application Program Interface (API).

See also user interface copyright.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

References in periodicals archive ?

YAPPA will continue to engage in research and development of user interfaces to domestic and foreign markets, delivering even more intuitive and easy to use products to a wide range of fields including mobile phones, smart phones, and digital consumer electronics.

Ultra Mobile WILLCOM D4 Selects YAPPA's UI Solution; Delivering Intuitive UI's Based on Innovative Algorithms that Incorporate Physics

The presented information via user interface had sometimes different structure from the structure which was conformed to the domain.

Identification of main problems of software development automation

Eliminating all significant development expenses and risk, the new WebSparX software package enables switch OEMs and ODMs to rapidly create easily customizable, browser-based user interfaces for switches targeted at Small Office Home Office (SOHO), Small Medium Business (SMB) and consumer wireless Ethernet networks.

Vitesse accelerates gigabit Ethernet time-to-market with WebSparX software stack

* User Interface design stored in the database allowing user customisation

FastNET.ASP

The presentation layer formats the data transferred to the user interface. Software modules collected by this layer communicate with application layer.

Controlling of measurement process of strong ground motion using mobile technologies in SEJS-NET system

In Chapter 1, "Controlling your environment makes you happy," Spolsky shares a story, relates the story to user interface design, and presents what he characterizes as "the cardinal axiom of all user interface design: A user interface is well designed when the program behaves exactly how the user thought it would" (p.

User Interface Design for Programmers

The client user interface is the part of the application that different types of users work with to view and manipulate data stored and retrieved by the application.

Client user interfaces: choosing the right tool(s) for the job. (Tech Tool Kit)

On the one hand, it's, in Forrester's words, "executable" and about software and user interface. It moves code more efficiently from servers to user PCs and other devices to reduce latency and enhance greater interactivity online.

Great X-pectations: Executable, extended--new Internet paradigm could change the user experience and connect us with the real world. (Business of Technology)

Version 8 provides enhancements in three areas: user interface, calculus education, and advanced mathematics support.