96:, and it can be moved to any area by dragging it (that is, by clicking in a certain area of the window – usually the title bar along the top – and keeping the pointing device's button pressed, then moving the pointing device). A window can be placed in front or behind another window, its size can be adjusted, and scrollbars can be used to navigate the sections within it. Multiple windows can also be open at one time, in which case each window can display a different application or file – this is very useful when working in a multitasking environment. The system memory is the only limitation to the number of windows that can be open at once. There are also many types of specialized windows.
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351:. With these browsers, you can have multiple web pages open at once in one window, and quickly navigate between them by clicking on the tabs associated with the pages. Tabs are usually placed in groups at the top of a window, but may also be grouped on the side or bottom of a window. Tabs are also present in the settings panes of many applications. Microsoft Windows, for example, uses tabs in most of its control panel dialogues.
169:, is a type of child window. These are usually small and basic windows that are opened by a program to display information to the user and/or get information from the user. They almost always have one or more buttons, which allow the user to dismiss the dialog with an affirmative, negative, or neutral response.
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is typically a rectangular small box which usually contains a text label or graphical icon associated with a view pane. When activated the view pane, or window, displays widgets associated with that tab; groups of tabs allow the user to switch quickly between different widgets. This is used in all
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is a small picture that represents objects such as a file, program, web page, or command. They are a quick way to execute commands, open documents, and run programs. Icons are also very useful when searching for an object in a browser list, because in many operating systems all documents using the
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Menus allow the user to execute commands by selecting from a list of choices. Options are selected with a mouse or other pointing device within a GUI. A keyboard may also be used. Menus are convenient because they show what commands are available within the
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has a visible title within the menu bar. Its contents are only revealed when the user selects it with a pointer. The user is then able to select the items within the pull-down menu. When the user clicks elsewhere the content of the menu will
68:
Graphical user interfaces use visual conventions to represent the generic information shown. Some conventions are used to build the structure of the static elements on which the user can interact, and define the appearance of the interface.
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is displayed horizontally across the top of the screen and/or along the tops of some or all windows. A pull-down menu is commonly associated with this menu type. When a user clicks on a menu option the pull-down menu will
363:
for interaction have evolved in the visual language used in GUIs. Interaction elements are interface objects that represent the state of an ongoing operation or transformation, either as visual remainders of the user
83:
A window is an area on the screen that displays information, with its contents being displayed independently from the rest of the screen. An example of a window is what appears on the screen when the "My
Documents"
213:
is invisible until the user performs a specific mouse action, like pressing the right mouse button. When the software-specific mouse action occurs the menu will appear under the cursor.
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consoles are examples of these types of windows. Terminal windows often conform to the hotkey and display conventions of CRT-based terminals that predate GUIs, such as the VT-100.
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allow developers to reuse code for similar tasks, and provides users with a common language for interaction, maintaining consistency throughout the whole information system.
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is a list of items on which user operations will take place. The user typically adds items to the list manually, although the computer may create a selection automatically.
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A cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor or other display device that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device.
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encloses other windows or controls. When it is moved or resized, the enclosed items move, resize, reorient, or are clipped by the container window.
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to read or edit information about an application. Each widget facilitates a specific user-computer interaction. Structuring a user interface with
41:
to represent information stored in computers. These make it easier for people with few computer skills to work with and use computer software.
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operation. Usually the pointer shape changes when placed on the handle, showing an icon that represents the supported drag operation.
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Common uses for widgets involve the display of collections of related items (such as with various
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is located. It represents the object that will be used as the default subject of user-initiated
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This article explains the most common elements of visual language interfaces found in the
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opens automatically or as a result of a user activity in a parent window.
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interfaces. These elements are usually embodied in an interface using a
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controls), initiation of actions and processes within the interface (
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673:"Use tabs to organize lots of websites in a single window"
314:), and representing and manipulating data values (such as
791:"7 Opera features that make it easy to manage many tabs"
761:"How to Enable and Use Vertical Tabs in Microsoft Edge"
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represents the point of the user interface where the
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are individual items within or at the side of a menu.
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129:windows present a character-based, command-driven
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372:showing places where the user may interact.
267:that a computer user interacts with through
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499:is an indicator of a starting point for a
1255:List of graphical user interface elements
121:are an example of these types of windows.
727:"Use tabs for webpages in Safari on Mac"
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235:same extension will have the same icon.
133:within the overall graphical interface.
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479:Selection of an area by using cursor.
18:Elements of graphical user interfaces
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400:The pointer echoes movements of the
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759:Hoffman, Chris (28 October 2020).
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25:
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1311:Graphical user interface elements
459:such as writing text, starting a
31:Graphical user interface elements
630:. Foldoc.org. 19 September 2006.
467:operation through the keyboard.
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368:(such as the pointer), or as
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1002:Head-up display in computing
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249:Interface elements known as
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302:of the information system (
33:are those elements used by
27:List of common GUI elements
10:
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851:Graphical control elements
671:mozilla.org contributors.
539:. Linfo.org. 9 August 2004
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252:graphical control elements
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35:graphical user interfaces
606:"context-sensitive menu"
396:Pointer (user interface)
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1290:Zoomable user interface
382:Cursor (user interface)
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173:
1095:Client-side decoration
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1173:Breadcrumb navigation
513:Interaction technique
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239:Controls (or widgets)
156:can be child windows.
801:. 18 November 2015.
642:"Use tabs in Chrome"
355:Interaction elements
131:text user interfaces
767:. LifeSavvy Media.
681:Mozilla Corporation
537:"Window Definition"
518:Geometric primitive
414:direct manipulation
269:direct manipulation
265:software components
64:Structural elements
58:desktop environment
1032:Progress indicator
1007:HUD in video games
711:has generic name (
646:Google Chrome Help
584:"How to Use Menus"
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79:Window (computing)
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1145:Window decoration
1100:Disclosure widget
904:Data input-output
865:Adjustment handle
731:Safari User Guide
491:Adjustment handle
90:Microsoft Windows
16:(Redirected from
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1243:Related concepts
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1209:Alert dialog box
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1037:Progress bar
997:Balloon help
956:Radio button
951:List builder
926:Cycle button
916:Color picker
875:Context menu
807:. Retrieved
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689:. Retrieved
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612:19 September
610:. Retrieved
608:. Foldoc.org
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590:19 September
588:. Retrieved
565:19 September
563:. Retrieved
561:. Foldoc.org
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543:19 September
541:. Retrieved
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359:Some common
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349:web browsers
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245:Widget (GUI)
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210:context menu
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146:child window
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119:Web browsers
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1250:File viewer
1219:File dialog
1168:Address bar
931:Date picker
809:14 December
795:Opera Blogs
775:14 December
765:How-To Geek
744:14 December
691:14 December
656:14 December
445:text cursor
370:affordances
320:check boxes
298:within the
218:Menu extras
94:application
1214:Dialog box
1078:Containers
1059:Status bar
966:Search box
735:Apple Inc.
524:References
465:copy-paste
312:scrollbars
296:navigation
204:disappear.
166:dialog box
1275:Scrolling
1270:Mouseover
1178:Hyperlink
1152:Workspace
1090:Tree view
1085:Accordion
961:Scrollbar
936:Grid view
921:Combo box
485:selection
471:Selection
461:selection
115:web pages
50:post-WIMP
1305:Category
1198:Special
1110:Menu bar
1047:Throbber
981:Text box
946:List box
911:Checkbox
895:Pie menu
803:Archived
769:Archived
738:Archived
701:cite web
685:Archived
650:Archived
507:See also
457:commands
419:such as
417:gestures
410:touchpad
332:spinners
257:controls
190:menu bar
181:software
154:Internet
1200:windows
1135:Toolbar
1120:Popover
1069:Tooltip
1054:Sidebar
1017:Infobar
976:Spinner
390:Pointer
347:modern
328:sliders
288:buttons
261:widgets
194:appear.
152:on the
1140:Window
1125:Ribbon
971:Slider
870:Button
559:"menu"
497:handle
376:Cursor
366:intent
361:idioms
330:, and
316:labels
284:canvas
135:MS-DOS
73:Window
1115:Panel
1064:Toast
1022:Label
463:or a
453:focus
441:caret
425:touch
421:click
406:mouse
304:links
300:space
292:menus
226:Icons
163:, or
1285:WIMP
1012:Icon
890:Menu
811:2020
777:2020
746:2020
713:help
693:2020
658:2020
614:2006
592:2006
567:2006
545:2006
439:The
429:drag
427:and
338:Tabs
310:and
308:tabs
290:and
282:and
280:list
263:are
232:icon
200:menu
174:Menu
139:Unix
137:and
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