what is an interface in computer


If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, you can use the green citation links above. Some languages (like C#) also permit the definition to include properties owned by the object, which are treated as methods with syntactic sugar, but no constants (in contrast to Java), constructors, destructors, fields, nested types, or operators.[4]. It allows the user to interact with devices through graphical icons and visual indicators such as secondary notations. Please contactus. Several common peripherals connect to a computer via USB, while other devices use a Firewire connection or other interface. A piece of software provides access to computer resources (such as memory, CPU, storage, etc.) The term refers to the way in which a person experiences the. All rights reserved. The definition of Interface on this page is an original TechTerms.com definition.

For example, a TV may connect to a Blu-ray player via an HDMI cable and may connect to a cable box using component cables. Ethernet connections are commonly used for networking, which is why most cable modems and routers have an Ethernet interface.

Yes! [1] Hardware interfaces can be parallel where performance is important or serial where distance is important. Computer disk drive interface help and support. Once you confirm your address, you will begin to receive the newsletter. 3) a device or program enabling a user to communicate with a computer, or for connecting two items of English terms dictionary, interface I. interface interface 1 [ntfes r ] noun [countable] 1. the point at which two subjects, events etc are connected with each other or have an effect on one another: interface between The next chapter discusses the interface between Financial and business terms, Computing platform A computing platform includes some sort of hardware architecture and a software framework (including application frameworks), where the combination allows software to run. Audio devices may have either analog or digital audio connections and may include a MIDI interface, which is used to transfer MIDI data. Commonly used by telephone systems as an alternative to the user pressing numbered buttons the user can speak their responses instead. Computer Hardware and Software means, with respect to any Debtor, all of such Debtor's rights (including rights as licensee and lessee) with respect to (i) computer and other electronic data processing hardware, including all integrated computer systems, central processing units, memory units, display terminals, printers, computer elements, card readers, tape drives, hard and soft disk drives, cables, electrical supply hardware, generators, power equalizers, accessories, peripheral devices and other related computer hardware; (ii) all software programs designed for use on the computers and electronic data processing hardware described in clause (i) above, including all operating system software, utilities and application programs in whatsoever form (source code and object code in magnetic tape, disk or hard copy format or any other listings whatsoever); (iii) any firmware associated with any of the foregoing; and (iv) any documentation for hardware, software and firmware described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, including flow charts, logic diagrams, manuals, specifications, training materials, charts and pseudo codes.

software interface the languages and codes that the applications use to communicate with each other and with the hardware. The definition of interface is a surface that forms a common boundary between two things or a point of interaction between two components or systems. interfaces.[2]. the Java language defines the interface Readable that has the single read() method and a collection of implementations to be used for different purposes, among others: BufferedReader, FileReader, InputStreamReader, PipedReader, and StringReader; or even less, marker interfaces like Serializable contain virtually nothing. In this Kintone A display screen is a visual output device that presents information in a visible form. Computer Tape means the computer tapes or other electronic media furnished by the Servicer to the Issuer and its assigns describing certain characteristics of the Receivables as of the Cutoff Date. Preferably, if one has knowledge on UML modeling, it can be a good example when designing the architecture of the machine. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Typical platforms include a computer s architecture, operating system, Wikipedia, interface [[t]nt(r)fes[/t]] interfaces, interfacing, interfaced 1) N COUNT The interface between two subjects or systems is the area in which they affect each other or have links with each other.

Computer Equipment means Covered Property that is electronic computer or other data processing equipment, including peripherals used in conjunction with such equipment, and electronic media and records. Want to learn more tech terms? Vangie Beal is a freelance business and technology writer covering Internet technologies and online business since the late '90s. However, today nearly all digital interfaces are GUIs. Search our database for more, Full text search our database of 168,400 titles for. Despite advances in human-computer interface design, we are accustomed to a quality of communication that no computer can yet convey. Examples include a command-line interface and a graphical user interface (GUI). 2. the facts, problems, considerations, theories, practices, etc., shared Universalium, Software interfaces in object oriented languages. This allows a component, whether a piece of hardware such as a graphics card or a piece of software such as an Internet browser, to function independently while using interfaces to communicate with other components via an input/output system and an associated protocol. (n.)A boundary across which two independent systems meet and act on or communicate with each other. See also, Software that enables a user to work with a computer program perhaps in an intuitive way. Voice over internet protocol service means any service that: Computer System means (1) computers with related peripheral components, including storage components, (2) systems and applications software, (3) terminal devices, (4) related communications networks or customer communication systems, and (5) related electronic funds transfer systems; by which data or monies are electronically collected, transmitted, processed, stored or retrieved. The data is sent over the air interface to the remote system. and 2021 TechnologyAdvice. Most comprehensive library of legal defined terms on your mobile device, All contents of the lawinsider.com excluding publicly sourced documents are Copyright 2013-, Computer Hardware and Software Collateral. Subscribe to the daily or weekly newsletter and get featured terms and quizzes delivered to your inbox. To construct an interface for, to connect through an interface. There are different ways of interacting with computer systems which have evolved over the years. [1], A natural language interface is a spoken interface where the user interacts with the computer by talking to it. Sign up to make the most of YourDictionary. We'll come on to implementing this interface later. To serve as an interface or become interfaced. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Computer+interface. Webopedia resources cover technology definitions, educational guides, and software reviews that are accessible to all researchers regardless of technical background. See also, Software that enables a computer to work with another program, or with the computer hardware. The purpose of the interface metaphor is to give the user instantaneous knowledge about how Wikipedia, interface n. /in teuhr fays /; v. /in teuhr fays , in teuhr fays /, n., v., interfaced, interfacing. The term does not include computer software. We just sent you an email to confirm your email address. Search inside this book for more research materials. Property of TechnologyAdvice. A trunk interface that connects a trunk and a switch or router is an example of such an interface. For the magazine, see Computing (magazine). To interact with (another system, discipline, group, etc.). The following list is a list of different internal and external interfaces that connect a drive to a computer. After Steve Jobs saw the interface during a tour at Xerox, he had his team at Apple develop an operating system with a si was included with the Macintosh, which was released in 1984. lasik laser striae keratomileusis situ staining negative flap surgery eye [3], In its purest form, an interface (like in Java) must include only method definitions and constant values that make up part of the static interface of a type. While Mailchimp What are the Five Generations of Computers? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Many other electronic devices besides computers use some type of interface to connect to other equipment. Public relations firms often serve as the interface between a company and the press. Such software generally is characterized as performing a gateway function. Network Interface Device or "NID" is a Network Element (including all of its features, functions and capabilities) that includes any means of Interconnection of End User Customer premises wiring to Qwest's distribution plant, such as a cross connect device used for that purpose. Webopedia focuses on connecting researchers with IT resources that are most helpful for them. For example, a printer typically connects to a computer via a USB interface. The term was created in the 1970s to distinguish graphical interfaces from text-based ones, such as command-line interfaces. An Example of this type of interface is Voice Recognition. Microsoft released its first GUI-based OS, Windows 1.0, in 1985.

Privacy Policy. The form normally provides limited choices as to the use. To sew material (interfacing) between the outer fabric and the facing of (a collar, lapel, etc.) Usually a method in an interface cannot be used directly; there must be a class implementing that object to be used for the method invocation.

An interface may refer to any of the following: 1. 2) chiefly Physics a surface forming a boundary between two portions of matter or space. A difference engine: computing the solution to a polynomial function Wikipedia, Interface metaphor An Interface metaphor is a set of user interface visuals, actions and procedures that exploit specific knowledge that users already have of other domains. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. User interface- Interfaces between man and device.

Computer data base means a collection of data recorded in a form capable of being processed by a computer.

The types of access that interfaces provide between software components can include: constants, data types, types of procedures, exception specifications and method signatures. It involves the computer responding to commands typed by the operator. Computer network means the interconnection of hardwire or wireless communication lines with a computer through remote terminals, or a complex consisting of 2 or more interconnected computers. The term does not include computer software. If you have feedback about the Interface definition or would like to suggest a new technical term, please contact us. It was used by the Xerox 8010 Information System, which was released in 1981. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Menu-driven interfaces provide a simple and an easy to use interface composed of a series of menus and sub-menus which the user accesses by pressing buttons, often on a touch-screen device. Computer Virus means a set of corrupting, harmful or otherwise unauthorized instructions or code including a set of maliciously introduced unauthorized instructions or code, programmatic or otherwise, that propagate themselves through a computer system or network of whatsoever nature. Sometimes referred to as a 'conversational interface', this interface simulates having a conversation with a computer. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Computer Systems means computers and associated input and output devices, data storage devices, networking equipment, and back up facilities: Interactive computer service means any information service, system, or ac- cess software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the Internet and such systems operated or services of- fered by libraries or educational insti- tutions. For example, a form interface for setting text characteristics in application software might offer the choices of selecting font size, colour, style. [1] A standard interface, such as SCSI, decouples the design and introduction of computing hardware, such as I/O devices, from the design and introduction of other components of a computing system, thereby allowing users and manufacturers great flexibility in the implementation of computing systems. If you have any questions, please contact us. Computer database or database means a collection of recorded information in a form capable of, and for the purpose of, being stored in, processed, and operated on by a computer. An interface is hence a type definition; anywhere an object can be exchanged (in a function or method call) the type of the object to be exchanged can be defined in terms of an interface instead of a specific class. https://techterms.com/definition/interface. A device, such as a cable, network card, monitor, or keyboard, that enables interaction or communication between a computer and another entity. The layout of an application's graphic or textual controls in conjunction with the way the application responds to user activity. Computer Hardware and Software Collateral means (a) all computer and other electronic data processing hardware, integrated computer systems, central processing units, memory units, display terminals, printers, features, computer elements, card readers, tape drives, hard and soft disk drives, cables, electrical supply hardware, generators, power equalizers, accessories and all peripheral devices and other related computer hardware, including all operating system software, utilities and application programs in whatsoever form, (b) software programs (including both source code, object code and all related applications and data files), designed for use on the computers and electronic data processing hardware described in clause (a) above, (c) all firmware associated therewith, (d) all documentation (including flow charts, logic diagrams, manuals, guides, specifications, training materials, charts and pseudo codes) with respect to such hardware, software and firmware described in the preceding clauses (a) through (c), and (e) all rights with respect to all of the foregoing, including copyrights, licenses, options, warranties, service contracts, program services, test rights, maintenance rights, support rights, improvement rights, renewal rights and indemnifications and any substitutions, replacements, improvements, error corrections, updates, additions or model conversions of any of the foregoing. (usage problem) To interact or coordinate smoothly. The point of interaction or communication between a computer and any other entity, such as a printer or human operator.

iPods have a proprietary "dock connector" interface, which allows them to connect to a power source and transfer data via USB. Pushing this idea to the limit one can introduce the inversion of control that means leaving the context to inject the code with the specific implementations of the interface that will be used to perform the work. It often also specifies the functionality of those procedures and methods, either by comments or (in some experimental languages) by formal logical assertions and preconditions. interface The use of this word was transformed between the publication of the original OED entry in 1901 and that of the updated entry in OED2 in 1989. Other examples include the increasing use on touch-screen devices (such as mobile phones and tablet computers) of gestures such as 'pinching' to zoom in and out. 2. n. 1. a surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases. (1st to 5th), user interface the keyboard, mouse, menus of a computer system. A user interface, also sometimes called a human-computer interface, comprises both hardware and software components. A boundary or point common to two or more similar or dissimilar command and control systems, sub-systems, or other entities against which or at which necessary information flow takes place. https://thecustomizewindows.com/2021/02/interface-in-computing/. "New Service Provider" means the Party to which an End User Customer switches its local Exchange Service or the Party to which an End User Customer is porting its telephone number(s). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A menu-driven interface is commonly used on cash machines (also known as automated teller machines, or ATMs), ticket machines and information kiosks (for example in a museum). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Cable, Hardware terms, HCI, Parallel interface, Port, Software terms, UI. When referring to software, an interface is a program that allows a user to interact computers in person or over a network. (See also Liskov substitution principle.). For example, address transfers concerning data/information to use when calling subprograms. Best Real Money Online Casinos in Canada: How To Choose The Right Slot Machine? a witty exploration of that interface between English dictionary, computing noun 1. the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods Syn: calculation, computation Derivationally related forms: computational (for: computation), compute Useful english dictionary, Computing Similarly, the more complex approximations of given below involve repeated calculations of some sort, yielding closer and closer approximations with increasing numbers of calculations.Continued fractionsBesides its simple continued fraction Wikipedia, Computing For the formal concept of computation, see computation. computer data means any representation of facts, information or concepts in a form suitable for processing in a computer system, including a program suitable to cause a computer system to perform a function; Electronic Interface means access to operations support systems consisting of preordering, ordering, provisioning, maintenance and repair and billing functions. Data interface Data as interfaces between programs, Machine Interface Interfaces Between Physical Systems, Hardware interfaceInterfaces between physical computer systems, Network interface- Interfaces between network components. Featuring a simple interface to control the content of your website. Circuits converting computer signals into a form that other electronic equipment can read. A form interface can also be used to enter data into a system, for example a database system will usually allow you to create a form to enter data into tables. This allows later code to use the same function exchanging different object types; hence such code turns out to be more generic and reusable. This approach can be pushed to the limit of defining interfaces with a single method; e.g. Graphical user interfaces (GUI) are sometimes also referred to as WIMP because they use Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers. A software interface may refer to a range of different types of interface at different "levels": an operating system may interface with pieces of hardware, applications or programs running on the operating system may need to interact via streams, and in object oriented programs, objects within an application may need to interact via methods. The first commercially available GUI, called "PARC," was developed by Xerox. A hardware interface is described by the mechanical, electrical and logical signals at the interface and the protocol for sequencing them (sometimes called signaling). This interface is implemented by several Java classes. See also, The device or component that serves to physically and logically interconnect two other devices or systems and that enables their interoperation.

The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Fortunately, standards like USB, Firewire, HDMI, and MIDI have helped consolidate the number of interfaces into a manageable number. Software interfaceinterfaces between programs, to the operating system, in object-oriented programming, etc. I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. A point or means of interaction between two or more systems, components of a computer system, or the system and a user.

The interface of a software module A is deliberately kept separate from the implementation of that module. Interface means the mixture occurring in pipeline operations between adjoining batches having similar or dissimilar physical characteristics. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This page was last edited on 13 June 2022, at 01:36. An example of interface is someone using the controls on a washing machine to tell the machine how to function. The surface of a lake is a water-air interface. Also see. Computer software means computer programs, source code, source code listings, object code listings, design details, algorithms, processes, flow charts, formulae, and related material that would enable the software to be reproduced, recreated, or recompiled. Therefore, the USB port on the computer is considered the hardware interface. A form interface which will allow you to interact with the system software might offer choices such as selecting your screen resolution, default language, keyboard style etc.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Business Software expressly excludes any and all Excluded IP. It can also be used as a verb, describing how two devices connect to each other. Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation.

TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace. Interfaces as functional units: The interfaces used in this way perform a certain functionality to synchronize or support the primary part of the system involved. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. Risks related to prolonged usage of computers and how to avoid them, Mainframe Systems and Terminal Emulation : Best Practices, Image Processor and Image Processing Engine of Digital Camera, Kernel Panic : What is Kernel Panic and What are Trigger Factors, Cloud Computing and Social Networks in Mobile Space, Indispensable MySQL queries for custom fields in WordPress, Windows 7 Speech Recognition Scripting Related Tutorials, The Best S Pen Apps For The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, The Rise of No-Code Development Platforms.

These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Such software enables the computer to function as a whole. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Blaauw, Gerritt A.; Brooks, Jr., Frederick P., "Chapter 8.6, Device Interfaces". In some instances, it may be useful to define public variables as part of the interface. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Patterson, David A.; Hennessey, John L., "Chapter 8.5, Interfacing I/O Devices to the Processor, Memory and Operating System", "Leading-Edge Java: Design Principles from Design Patterns: Program to an interface, not an implementation - A Conversation with Erich Gamma, Part III", http://www.artima.com/lejava/articles/designprinciples.html, "Performance improvement techniques in Serialization", http://download.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/io/Serializable.html, http://ssw.jku.at/Teaching/Lectures/CSharp/Tutorial/, http://ssw.jku.at/Teaching/Lectures/CSharp/Tutorial/Part2.pdf. By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions A system of interaction or communication between a computer and another entity such as a printer, another computer, a network, or a human user. COMPUTER VIRUS includes but is not limited to Trojan Horses, worms and time or logic bombs.. How To 1 To access this option, click the Aliases / Forwarding icon on the main screen of your cPanel interface. For example, one can define an interface called "Stack" that has two methods: push() and pop() and later implement it in two different versions, say, FastStack and GenericStackthe first being faster, but working with a stack of fixed size, and the second using a data structure that can be resized, but at the cost of somewhat lower speed.

The common physical point, boundary, surface, or plane where two things touch, meet, or come together. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Some games consoles are starting to use gesture driven interfaces. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Such an interface may comprise a combination of hardware and firmware. Looking to publish sponsored article on our website? A point or means of interaction between two systems, disciplines, groups, etc. hardware interface the wires, plugs and sockets that hardware devices use to communicate with each other. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish. Data-oriented interfaces used only for communication: The interface always remains passive, it contains only the information that is exchanged between involved system parts. Computers would need a lot more ports on the back! The layout or design of the interactive elements of a computer program, an online service, or an electronic device. by its underlying computer system; the availability of these resources to other software can have major ramificationssometimes disastrous onesfor its functionality and stability.