explain the difference in a command line interface and a graphical user interface?

Question

thanks in advance ;)

Answer 1

A CLI (command line interface) is a user interface to a computer's operating system or an application in which the user responds to a visual prompt by typing in a command on a specified line, receives a response back from the system, and then enters another command, and so forth. The MS-DOS Prompt application in a Windows operating system is an example of the provision of a command line interface. Today, most users prefer the graphical user interface (GUI) offered by Windows, Mac OS, BeOS, and others. Typically, most of today's Unix-based systems offer both a command line interface and a graphical user interface.



A graphical user interface (GUI) is a human-computer interface (i.e., a way for humans to interact with computers) that uses windows, icons and menus and which can be manipulated by a mouse (and often to a limited extent by a keyboard as well).



GUIs stand in sharp contrast to command line interfaces (CLIs), which use only text and are accessed solely by a keyboard. The most familiar example of a CLI to many people is MS-DOS. Another example is Linux when it is used in console mode (i.e., the entire screen shows text only).



A window is a (usually) rectangular portion of the monitor screen that can display its contents (e.g., a program, icons, a text file or an image) seemingly independently of the rest of the display screen. A major feature is the ability for multiple windows to be open simultaneously. Each window can display a different application, or each can display different files (e.g., text, image or spreadsheet files) that have been opened or created with a single application.



An icon is a small picture or symbol in a GUI that represents a program (or command), a file, a directory or a device (such as a hard disk or floppy). Icons are used both on the desktop and within application programs. Examples include small rectangles (to represent files), file folders (to represent directories), a trash can (to indicate a place to dispose of unwanted files and directories) and buttons on web browsers (for navigating to previous pages, for reloading the current page, etc.).



Commands are issued in the GUI by using a mouse, trackball or touchpad to first move a pointer on the screen to, or on top of, the icon, menu item or window of interest in order to select that object. Then, for example, icons and windows can be moved by dragging (moving the mouse with the held down) and objects or programs can be opened by clicking on their icons.



To conclude: The interface is the method through which you interact with the data on your computer. There are two primary ways in which you can do this, using a command-based system or a graphically-based system.



A graphically-based system is known as a "graphical user interface" or "GUI" (pronounced gooey). This setup has icons, a desktop, taskbars and other visual elements that make it more friendly for new users.



The command-based system is called a "command line Interface" or CLI. The system presents you with a prompt in which you enter commands. Though the CLI has a steep learning curve, it is far more powerful once it is learned. More experienced users may use the command-line exclusively.



Also.. You should just search Google for this stuff.

Answer 2

A program with a command line interface requires that parameters be passed into it on the command line. That means the program would be run from a command prompt by typing in something like:

c:>MyProgram.exe param1 param2

A command line program can still prompt for inputs and display output to the console, but it is all text and is input/output in a linear manner, one line at a time. Command line interfaces are typically fairly simple, don't provide much flexibility in execution and really aren't that aesthetically pleasing to use.

A graphical user interface (GUI) provides a more robust input/output format, typically with forms containing multiple input values and output formats. It allows the user to move around the form to input values in whatever order they want, provides buttons which can be clicked to initiate actions, and creates a much more interactive and event-driven application.

Answer 3

Before there was Windows, computers ran an operating system called DOS. It provided a keyboard interface for typing and a screen display. Basically you typed "commands" and your typing appeared on the screen as well as the "typed" results of the command (application). The command could be simple DOS functions or complex applications such as rudimentary word processors. Nowadays, the DOS interface still exists, but as a WINDOWS application that opens up a black "screen" window that you can type the commands onto. It is still used to sometimes perform "system" functions that may not have a "windows" interface, or for running very old programs (applications) that were originally designed for DOS. The DOS window is invoked by the "cmd" application invoked in the "run" or "search" panel in the Windows "Start" menu. The Windows interface, in a nutshell, allows applications (programs) to use both keyboard and mouse (including touchscreen) to interact with the user. You can click on "icons", words, pictures or use "keyboard shortcuts" to communicate with the applications which can display stuff in their window or even open new windows with new applications, An example of this is the "Windows Explorer" application which can launch another application in another window when you click on a specific file. I hope this is detailed enough - there are whole books written on the subject!

Answer 4

Command line isn't graphical. Normally it's a black screen with white characters, like MS Dos. A graphical user interface is like Windows.

Answer 5

take a look at ur normal desktop its a graphical user interface where u can c the options, and u just have to click them or selct them



and in case of Command line interface, u have to write command to execute programs. Click on Start->Run and then type CMD and then enter.then press Shift+Enter. This is Command line interface.

Answer 6

You should be able to do that by just looking at the words.