GUI

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GUI, or Graphical User Interface, is a visual representation of a computer system to an end user. A desktop operating system GUI, for example, typically consists of windows representing applications, menus for choosing actions, and a pointer for user interaction.

GUIs are available on all popular desktop operating systems such as Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. GUIs are also often available on the server versions of the same operating systems. Today GUIs are also popular on small mobile devices running slim versions of these same operating systems, or a more specialized OS.

A GUI can be contrasted with a text interface, such as a CLI, or command line interface.

Desktop Elements [edit]

Commonly used desktop operating systems, with large high resolution graphical displays available, have mostly standardized on a common set of GUI elements:

• Windows represent whole applications, or subsets of an application, wrapped in borders or shaded edges, and containing other GUI elements.
• Menus allow actions or options to be chosen, most often categorized into multiple levels which drop down or expand.
• The Mouse pointer represents a location on the screen chosen with a mouse, trackpad, or other "pointing" device. By pressing a physical button while over that point, a graphical element can be "clicked" or "dragged".
• Scroll bars allow elements larger than the page to be moved into view.
• Icons represent files, folders, and applications with a small graphical representation.

Forms, areas allowing user input, have their own common subset of GUI elements:

• Text boxes allow short or long text to be typed.
• Drop-down boxes allow one selection from a list of choices.
• Check boxes allow a boolean (yes / no, on / off, true / false) selection.
• Radio buttons allow one of multiple choices to be made, with selection of one element deselecting the others.
• Buttons perform actions when clicked.

Mobile Elements [edit]

Small mobile devices, with a very limited amount of screen space available and touch screens, have developed their own set of elements. Some incorporate many of the elements common to desktops. The mobile elements are less standard, with some only available on a single OS.

• Toggle switches allow on/off choices, similar to check boxes.
• Scroll wheels allow one of multiple choices to be made with finger scrolling.