At its core, a user interface (UI) is the graphical layout of interactive elements through which a human user interacts with a digital device, application or website. It includes all the visual, touch and voice-driven components that enable inputs and deliver outputs.
The primary purpose of a UI is to provide an accessible, efficient channel for users to communicate their intents to a system and accomplish tasks smoothly. Interfaces remove the need to pass textual programming commands, instead translating actions through interactive icons, buttons, menus and graphical displays…
Prominent Types of User Interfaces
User interfaces can be broadly classified into five categories based on the mode of interaction:
- Command Line Interfaces
The earliest form of UIs, these accept text-based commands as inputs and display results as text. Offer immense flexibility and control but require technical knowledge.
Examples: MS-DOS prompt, Unix terminal
Use Cases: Infrastructure automation, developer tools
Market Share: 9% worldwide
- Graphical User Interfaces
Most common variety today, GUIs rely on visual icons, images and graphics for input and output. Intuitive for users without programming experience.
Examples: Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android
Use Cases: Consumer apps and devices
Market Share: 91% globally
- Web User Interfaces
Delivered through web browsers or browser engines embedded in apps. Allow accessing internet-delivered software services and cloud applications.
Examples: Gmail, Google Maps, Office365
Use Cases: Cloud apps, web apps
Market Share: >15 billion page views per day
- Conversational User Interfaces
Allow hands-free control through voice commands and conversations. Still evolving with reliability challenges.
Examples: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Use Cases: Smart speakers, smart homes
Market Share: Predicted to reach 8.4 billion units by 2028
- Virtual Reality Interfaces
Create immersive digital worlds using 3D environments, gestures and motion tracking. Requires specialized hardware.
Examples: Oculus VR, HTC Vive
Use Cases: Gaming, simulation
Market Size: Projected to grow to $184 billion by 2026
Now that you know the landscape of UI categories, let’s examine 10 key elements that comprise every user interface:
Critical Components of UI Design
- Layout: Structured placement of elements on screen real estate
- Input Controls: Buttons, fields for capturing user input
- Navigation: Menus, links for traversing screens
- Text: Fonts, sizes, colors for conveying information
- Icons: Visual symbols to represent actions
- Media: Images, illustrations, animations and videos
- Color Scheme: Impact experience, invoke emotions and reactions
- Typography: Influences tone, brand and aesthetics
- Microinteractions: Feedback for user actions
- Motion: Creates continuity between interface transitions
Now that you understand the foundation of UIs, let’s examine how to design effective user interfaces…
Best Practices for Crafting Intuitive Interfaces
The hallmarks of a thoughtfully designed interface are…
