user interface

noun

plural user interfaces

: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system (such as by selecting presented options or entering text commands)

Likewise, the user interface is remarkably unintuitive, requiring a whirlwind of relentless mouse clicking to move, talk, touch, look, or manipulate onscreen objects.

—Scott A. May

… a new user interface he vows will change the way people use computers.

—InfoWorld

especially : graphical user interface

—abbreviation UI

Examples of user interface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Parade magazine, Rachel is a user interface designer. —David Wysong, The Enquirer, 19 Dec. 2024

The Importance of Comprehensive Design Systems Design systems have become increasingly beneficial for the modern UX (user experience) or UI (user interface) designer’s toolkit. —William Mullane, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

The implementations differ—Assistive Access is far more stripped down in terms of the user interface—but the basic premise between it and Simple view are shared. —Steven Aquino, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Recreating those sensations in VR has resulted in a handful of attempts at a flavor user interface, relying on such mechanisms as chemical, thermal, and electrical stimulation, as well as iontophoresis. —Ars Technica, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

user interface

noun

: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system

especially : graphical user interface