User Interfaces - Grade 7

We need an interface to interact with the computers. An operating system provides an user interface to input the commands and instructions.

Types of User Interfaces

There are 2 types of user interfaces.

1. Command Line Interface – CLI
2.  Graphical User Interface – GUI

Command Line Interface (CLI)

This kind of interface was used by all the operating systems of the early days. This interface had a prompt where the commands are typed in by using the keyboard. Following the correct ‘Syntax’ was important in these types of OS.

 

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Almost all the present day operating systems are using Graphics in their user interfaces. There are four components in GUI’s known as WIMP.WIMP stands for

·         Windows

·         Icons

·         Menus

 Pointer (mouse pointer)