Glossary

Affordance

Visual properties of an object that indicate how it can be used or acted upon. For example, command buttons have the visual appearance of real-world buttons, suggesting pushing or clicking.

Application

A program used to perform a related set of user tasks; often relatively complex and sophisticated.

Application Theming

Using related visual techniques, such as customized controls, to create a unique look or branding for an application.

Check Box

A common Windows control that allows users to decide between clearly differing choices, such as toggling an option on or off.

Child Window

A window, such as a control or pane that is contained completely within another window referred to as the parent window. See also Parent Window, Owned Window.

Combo Box

A common control that combines the characteristics of a drop-down list or standard list box, and an editable text box. See List Box, Drop-down List.

Command Area

The area in a window where the commit buttons are located. Typically, dialog boxes and wizards have a command area. See also Commit Button.

Command Button

A common control that allows users to initiate an action immediately.

Commit Button

A command button used to commit to a task, proceed to the next step in a multi-step task, or cancel a task. See also Command Area.

Constraint

In controls that involve user input, such as text boxes, input constraints are a valuable way to prevent errors. For example, if the only valid input for a particular control is numeric, the control can use appropriate value constraints to enforce this requirement.

Content Area

The portion of UI surfaces, such as dialog boxes, control panel items, and wizards, devoted to presenting options, providing information, and describing controls. Distinguished from the command area, task pane, and navigation area.

Custom Icon

A pictorial representation unique to a program (as opposed to a system icon).

Custom Visuals

Graphics, animations, icons, and other visual elements specially developed for a program.

Default Command Button or Link

The command button or link that is invoked when users press the Enter key. The default command button or link is assigned by the developer, but any command button or link becomes the default when users tab to it.

Dialog box

A secondary window that allows users to perform a command, asks users a question, or provides users with information or progress feedback.

Docked Window

A window that appears at a fixed location on the edge of its owner window. See also Floating Window.

Drop-down Arrow

The arrow associated with drop-down lists, combo boxes, split buttons, and menu buttons, indicating that users can view the associated list by clicking the arrow.

Drop-down List

A common control that allows users to select among a list of mutually exclusive values. Unlike a list box, this list of available choices is normally hidden.

Expandable Headings

A progressive disclosure chevron pattern where a heading can be expanded or collapsed to reveal or hide a group of items.

Floating Window

A window that can appear anywhere on the screen the user wants. See also Docked Window.

Input Focus

The location where the user is currently directing input. Note that just because a location in the UI is highlighted does not necessarily mean this location has input focus.

Instance

A program session. For example, multiple instances of a program can be run in case users can have several independent sessions running at a time. Settings can be saved across program sessions. See Persistence.

List Box

A common control that allows users to select from a set of values presented in a list, which, unlike a drop-down list, is always visible. Supports single or multiple selections.

List View

A common control that allows users to view and interact with a collection of data objects, using either single selection or multiple selection.

Localization

The process of adapting software for different countries, languages, cultures, or markets.

Menu

A list of commands or options available to users in the current context.

Message Box

A secondary window that is displayed to inform a user about a particular condition.

Mixed State

For check boxes that apply to a group of items, a mixed state indicates that some of the items are selected and others are cleared.

Modal

Restrictive or limited interaction due to operating in a mode. Modal often describes a secondary window that restricts a user's interaction with the owner window. See also Modeless.

Modeless

Non-restrictive or non-limited interaction. Modeless often describes a secondary window that does not restrict a user's interaction with the owner window. See also Modal.

Multiple Selection

The ability for users to choose more than one object in a list or tree.

Options

Choices available to users for customizing a program. For example, an Options dialog box allows users to view and change program options. See Properties.

Owned Window

A secondary window used to perform an auxiliary task. It is not a top-level window (so it isn't displayed on the taskbar); rather, it is "owned" by its owner window. For example, most dialog boxes are owned windows. See Child Window, Owner Window.

Owner Window

The window type defined in the app template. For example, one from MainWindow, Dockwindow, Dialog or Wizard will be chosen during creation of the app. All GUI controls in the app itself will be children of this owner window.

Pane

A rectangular area within a window that users may be able to move, resize, hide, or close. Panes are always docked to the side of their parent window. They can be adjacent to other panes, but they never overlap. Undocking a pane converts it to a child window.

Parent Window

The container of child windows (such as controls or panes). See Owner Window.

Persistence

The principle that the state or properties of an object is automatically preserved.

Personalization

Customizing a core experience that is crucial to the user's personal identification with a program. By contrast, ordinary options and properties aren't crucial to the user's personal identification with a program.

Personas

Detailed descriptions of imaginary people. Personas are constructed out of well-understood, highly specified data about real people.

Preview

A representation of what users will see when they select an option. Previews can be displayed statically as part of the option, or upon request with a Preview or Apply button.

Primary Command

A central action that fulfills the primary purpose of a window. For example, Print is a primary command for a Print dialog box. See Secondary Command.

Progress Bar

A common Windows control that displays the progress of a particular operation as a graphical bar.

Prompt

A label or short instruction placed inside a text box or editable drop-down list as its default value. Unlike static text, prompts disappear once users type something into the control or it gets input focus.

Properties

Settings of an object that users can change, such as a file's name and read-only status, as well as attributes of an object that users can't directly change, such as a file's size and creation date. Typically properties define the state, value, or appearance of an object.

Radio Button

A control that allows users to scroll the content of a window, either vertically or horizontally.

Scroll Bar

A control that allows users to scroll the content of a window, either vertically or horizontally.

Secondary Command

A peripheral action that, while helpful, isn't essential to the purpose of the window. For example, Find Printer or Install Printer are secondary commands for a Print dialog box. See also Primary Command.

Slider

A common control that displays and sets a value from a continuous range of possible values.

Spin Box

The combination of a text box and its associated spin control. Users click the up or down arrow of a spin box to increase or decrease a numeric value. Unlike slider controls, which are used for relative quantities, spin boxes are used only for exact, known numeric values.

Spin Control

A control that users click to change values. Spin controls use up and down arrows to increase or decrease the value.

Static Text

User interface text that is not part of an interactive control. Includes labels, main instructions, supplemental instructions, and supplemental explanations.

Tabbed Dialog

A dialog box that contains related information on separate labeled pages (tabs). Unlike property sheets, which also often contain tabs, tabbed dialog boxes are not used to display an object's properties. See also Properties.

Text Box

A control specifically designed for textual input; allows users to view, enter, or edit text or numbers.

Toolbar

A graphical presentation of commands optimized for efficient access.

Tooltip

A small pop-up window that labels the unlabeled control being pointed to, such as unlabeled toolbar controls or command buttons.

User Scenario

A description of a user goal, problem, or task in a specific set of circumstances.

Wizard

A sequence of pages that guides users through a multi-step, infrequently performed task. Effective wizards reduce the knowledge required to perform the task compared to alternative UIs.