Interface

Interface (computing)

An interface is a shared boundary between two distinct pieces of hardware or software that allows them to interact. In computing, an interface is a point where two or more systems connect, allowing for the exchange of information or commands. This could include a person interacting with a computer, software programs communicating with each other, hardware components working together, or different networks connecting.

Interfaces exist in many different forms, including graphical user interfaces (GUI), command-line interfaces (CLI), application programming interfaces (APIs), remote procedure calls (RPCs), and application binary interface (ABIs). GUI interfaces are the type of interfaces that are displayed on a computer screen, where a user interacts with the computer using visual components, such as buttons, menus, and windows. CLI interfaces are a type of textual user interface which allow a user to interact with a computer with typed commands instead of mouse clicks and graphical elements.

APIs are an important type of interface because they allow applications to interact with each other. This could be an application on a smartphone communicating with a web server, or two different programs running simultaneously in the same operating system. APIs specify how data can be exchanged between different programs and hardware components, defining which commands can be used and how the data should be structured.

RPCs allow programs or services to communicate and exchange data across a network. This could be a file sharing service accessing another computer on the same network to download files, or a web server sending an HTML page to a user’s browser.

ABIs are an important type of interface which defines how different pieces of hardware and software exchange data. This includes the exchange between user programs and the operating system, as well as the exchange between different hardware components. ABIs specify what data can be exchanged, and how the data should be structured and formatted.

In summary, interfaces are an important part of computing, allowing different hardware and software components to communicate and exchange data. The different types of interfaces allow for different types of interaction, ranging from graphical interfaces to network communication. Without these specific interface protocols, the communication between hardware and software components would not be possible.