dialog box

Pop-up user interface

A dialog box is a small window that appears on a computer screen to request information or display a message.

It typically requires user input—clicking a button, entering text, or selecting options—before the program continues.

The term comes from the back-and-forth exchange between user and software: A dialog box asked if I wanted to save changes.

Also spelled dialogue box.

ui-element

modal

Pertaining to form

popupSuddenly appearing window
windowGlass-fitted wall opening
overlayCovering placed atop

prompt · confirm · tooltip · popover · lightbox · notification · toast · panel · pane · card

components

button

Disc through a hole

text fieldData entry area
checkboxToggleable selection indicator
radio buttonSingle-choice input element

dropdown · submit · cancel · close · OK · input · form · label · icon · title bar

types

alert

Warning or watchfulness

warningAlert about danger
errorFault in communication
confirmationEstablishing something as true

prompt · notification · informational · success · help · welcome · login · settings · preferences · save

actions

open

Not closed

closeNearby or to shut
dismissSend away or reject
confirmValidate as true

cancel · submit · click · drag · resize · minimize · maximize · display · trigger · respond

feedback

message

Transmitted communication

warningAlert about danger
errorFault in communication
notificationFormal notice given

confirmation · status · progress · loading · success · failure · validation · hint · instruction · guidance

Categories

Win32 APIcallback, menu, cursor, bitmap, DLL
screen elementsbutton, icon, menu, cursor, toolbar
pops upappears, arises, emerges, crops up, shows up
interface elementsbutton, checkbox, dropdown, menu, scrollbar
interfacesGUI, CLI, API, click, mouse
UI elementsbutton, menu, buttons, menus, icon

Opposites

ui element hierarchy

dialog boxdesktop

Primary computer interface

workspace · background · status bar · toolbar

interaction modality

dialog boxbackground process

Task without user interface

command line · terminal · CLI · status bar · batch processing

interface paradigm

dialog boxcommand line

Text-based computer interface

terminal · CLI · console · shell · keyboard shortcut

Family

box, dialogue, dialog, dialogs, dialogues, dialog boxes

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G