85:, 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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340:. 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.
158:, 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
167:
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
57:
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
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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
72:
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"
202:
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.
130:
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
30:
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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81:. It is easy for a user to manipulate a window: it can be shown and hidden by clicking on an icon or
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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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662:"Use tabs to organize lots of websites in a single window"
303:), and representing and manipulating data values (such as
780:"7 Opera features that make it easy to manage many tabs"
750:"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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118:windows present a character-based, command-driven
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361:showing places where the user may interact.
256:that a computer user interacts with through
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488:is an indicator of a starting point for a
1244:List of graphical user interface elements
110:are an example of these types of windows.
716:"Use tabs for webpages in Safari on Mac"
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224:same extension will have the same icon.
122:within the overall graphical interface.
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794:from the original on 14 December 2020
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468:Selection of an area by using cursor.
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389:The pointer echoes movements of the
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13:
748:Hoffman, Chris (28 October 2020).
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1300:Graphical user interface elements
448:such as writing text, starting a
20:Graphical user interface elements
619:. Foldoc.org. 19 September 2006.
456:operation through the keyboard.
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357:(such as the pointer), or as
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991:Head-up display in computing
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238:Interface elements known as
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291:of the information system (
22:are those elements used by
16:List of common GUI elements
10:
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840:Graphical control elements
660:mozilla.org contributors.
528:. Linfo.org. 9 August 2004
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241:graphical control elements
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24:graphical user interfaces
595:"context-sensitive menu"
385:Pointer (user interface)
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1279:Zoomable user interface
371:Cursor (user interface)
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1084:Client-side decoration
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1162:Breadcrumb navigation
502:Interaction technique
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228:Controls (or widgets)
145:can be child windows.
790:. 18 November 2015.
631:"Use tabs in Chrome"
344:Interaction elements
120:text user interfaces
756:. LifeSavvy Media.
670:Mozilla Corporation
526:"Window Definition"
507:Geometric primitive
403:direct manipulation
258:direct manipulation
254:software components
53:Structural elements
47:desktop environment
1021:Progress indicator
996:HUD in video games
700:has generic name (
635:Google Chrome Help
573:"How to Use Menus"
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68:Window (computing)
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1134:Window decoration
1089:Disclosure widget
893:Data input-output
854:Adjustment handle
720:Safari User Guide
480:Adjustment handle
79:Microsoft Windows
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945:Radio button
940:List builder
915:Cycle button
905:Color picker
864:Context menu
796:. Retrieved
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601:19 September
599:. Retrieved
597:. Foldoc.org
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579:19 September
577:. Retrieved
554:19 September
552:. Retrieved
550:. Foldoc.org
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532:19 September
530:. Retrieved
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348:Some common
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338:web browsers
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234:Widget (GUI)
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108:Web browsers
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1239:File viewer
1208:File dialog
1157:Address bar
920:Date picker
798:14 December
784:Opera Blogs
764:14 December
754:How-To Geek
733:14 December
680:14 December
645:14 December
434:text cursor
359:affordances
309:check boxes
287:within the
207:Menu extras
83:application
1203:Dialog box
1067:Containers
1048:Status bar
955:Search box
724:Apple Inc.
513:References
454:copy-paste
301:scrollbars
285:navigation
193:disappear.
155:dialog box
1264:Scrolling
1259:Mouseover
1167:Hyperlink
1141:Workspace
1079:Tree view
1074:Accordion
950:Scrollbar
925:Grid view
910:Combo box
474:selection
460:Selection
450:selection
104:web pages
39:post-WIMP
1294:Category
1187:Special
1099:Menu bar
1036:Throbber
970:Text box
935:List box
900:Checkbox
884:Pie menu
792:Archived
758:Archived
727:Archived
690:cite web
674:Archived
639:Archived
496:See also
446:commands
408:such as
406:gestures
399:touchpad
321:spinners
246:controls
179:menu bar
170:software
143:Internet
1189:windows
1124:Toolbar
1109:Popover
1058:Tooltip
1043:Sidebar
1006:Infobar
965:Spinner
379:Pointer
336:modern
317:sliders
277:buttons
250:widgets
183:appear.
141:on the
1129:Window
1114:Ribbon
960:Slider
859:Button
548:"menu"
486:handle
365:Cursor
355:intent
350:idioms
319:, and
305:labels
273:canvas
124:MS-DOS
62:Window
1104:Panel
1053:Toast
1011:Label
452:or a
442:focus
430:caret
414:touch
410:click
395:mouse
293:links
289:space
281:menus
215:Icons
152:, or
1274:WIMP
1001:Icon
879:Menu
800:2020
766:2020
735:2020
702:help
682:2020
647:2020
603:2006
581:2006
556:2006
534:2006
428:The
418:drag
416:and
327:Tabs
299:and
297:tabs
279:and
271:and
269:list
252:are
221:icon
189:menu
163:Menu
128:Unix
126:and
75:icon
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