User Interface (UI)

Definition

Simply put, UI is where a user meets and engages with a technology. It’s the doorway to your digital experience. Elements of UI are typically hardware surfaces and display screens. 

For example, the interface of a smartphone includes both hardware and software. The user engages with the physical elements of the screen by touching, talking, or typing. The lock screen and home screen also comprise the interface. Complex elements of physical computing and computational activity are hidden from the user to offer a more intuitive user experience (akin to pipes and wires and insulation hidden behind the walls in a house).

What are the 4 types of user interfaces?

The four most common types of user interfaces include:

  1. Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

  2. List-Based Menus

  3. Form-Based Interfaces

  4. Command Line Interfaces (CLIs) 

What is the most common user interface?

The mostly commonly used interface is the graphical user interface (GUI), an innovation that began with research by Douglas Engelbart in the 1960s.

What’s the difference between UI vs UX?

UI is the interface itself. UX (user experience) is a user’s experience with interfaces and other elements of technology.