user interfaces

Digital interaction layers

User interfaces are the points of contact between humans and machines—the screens, buttons, menus, and controls through which people interact with software or devices.

A graphical user interface (GUI) uses visual elements like windows and icons; a command-line interface uses typed text.

Good user interfaces feel intuitive; bad ones frustrate: The app's user interface was so cluttered I couldn't find anything.

accessibility

screen reader

Program converting text to audio

text-to-speech · voice control · magnification · color blindness · assistive technology · inclusive design · readability

platforms

GUI

Visual computer interface

  • CLIText-based computer interface
  • touchscreenInput-sensitive display panel
  • desktopPrimary computer interface

mobile · web · terminal · console · wearable · kiosk · dashboard · virtual reality · augmented reality · multimodal

design

layout

Spatial arrangement of elements

mockups · prototyping · visual design · iconography · style guide · white space · grid system · spacing · hierarchy · contrast

interaction

click

Brief sharp noise

  • tapValve controlling liquid flow
  • swipeQuick sliding motion
  • scrollWound document of parchment

hover · drag-and-drop · gesture · touch · input · feedback · select · toggle · press · pinch

components

button

Disc through a hole

dialog box · modal · tooltip · slider · checkbox · radio button · text field · search bar · navigation bar · sidebar

navigation

menu

List of available dishes

back button · home · pagination · tabs · links · wayfinding · hierarchy · tree view · hamburger menu · footer

Categories
Opposites
system architecture layer

user interfacesbackend

Non-visible system layer

back end · server-side · infrastructure · under the hood · middleware

interaction mode

user interfacescommand line

Text-based computer interface

CLI · terminal · APIs · batch processing · command-line interface

accessibility to non-technical users

user interfacessource code

Programming instructions before compilation

machine code · developer tools · under the hood · behind the scenes

Family

user, interface, interactive, user-friendly, interfaces, interfaced, interfacing, interactivity, user interface

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G