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![]() ![]() Designing a Good InterfaceThe user interface is part of a program that interacts with the user of the program. User interfaces take many forms. These forms range in complexity from simple command-line interfaces to the point-and-click graphical user interfaces provided by many modern GUI applications. A GUI is built of graphical elements generally called widgets. Typical widgets include such items as buttons, scrollbars, and text fields. Widgets allow the user to interact with the program and provide the user with visual feedback about the state of the program. Widgets do not stand alone, but rather are found within windows. Windows contain and control the layout of widgets. Windows are themselves widgets, however, they are called toplevel widgets as they can't be placed inside other widgets. A good interface makes it easy for users to tell the computer what they want to do, for the computer to request information from the users, and for the computer to present understandable information. Clear communication between the user and the computer is the working premise of a good user interface design. Some of the qualities that a good user interface must have are clear, consistent, simple, user-controlled, direct, forgiving, feedback provider, and aesthetic. Following the next GUI design principles should help you create more effective, user-friendly interfaces while avoiding many design errors. Unfortunately, just following design principles cannot alone guarantee success because it is entirely possible to create completely unworkable interfaces while strictly adhering to the rules.
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Index terms contained in this sectiondesigninginterfaces 2nd graphical user interfaces (GUIs) toolkits designing good interfaces 2nd interfaces graphical user (GUI) toolkits;designing good interfaces 2nd toolkits graphical user interfaces (GUIs) designing good interfaces 2nd toplevel widgets widgets 2nd |
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