We could basically say that an interface is any environment that allows people to use a computer or a platform in a simple and direct way, that is, by pressing a button and clicking on a certain object.
The best example of the function of an interface is what we see every time we open a program on our computer. That is why the programs carry a huge development work behind them, since through their interface they must guarantee that the user can use the application without problems or complications.
Here, the fact of being able to provide an interface that best fits the parameters of being intuitive plays a fundamental role , which allows even the person with less experience in using a program to easily access the basic functions. offered by said application.
The same happens with the devices, that is, for example, a printer must be designed in such a way that its interface is easily usable by anyone without experience, that is, they can turn it on, change the cartridges, choose the size of the sheet, the colors and print without the slightest inconvenience.
In this regard, we must point out
that within
the field of computing there are two large groups of interfaces, on
the one hand, the software interfaces, and on the other, those corresponding to
the hardware.
In the specific case of interfaces
referring to software, we must point out that it is any
interface that operating systems and programs have, in order to allow the user
to interact with the computer and programs, both user and system. , installed
in it.
In the case of
the software interface , it is comprised of all the
interactive visual components that an operating system or a program has, that
is, they are all those objects that we can visualize through our computer
screen, which they transmit information to us and allow us to carry out
actions.
So that the
interaction between the objects that make up the interface and the user is
clear, we can see that all these objects, including buttons, icons,
menus and others, tend to change color when we are using them.
On the other
hand, with regard to the hardware, in this case it is a physical
interface , that is, it includes the buttons that a device has, the
connection ports for its communication with the computer and others. For
example, a USB port is actually a hardware interface.
Therefore, when we
are using our computer, we can actually interact with it through the
use of different interfaces, including those that correspond to
software and those that are specific to hardware.
That is, as we have
seen, a software interface will make use of icons, windows, menus and
others so that the user can execute commands, such as, for example,
open, move, copy, paste, delete files. Of course, for this we also need a
hardware interface, which in this case would be represented by the mouse and keyboard.
So, if we are going to use a program we will need to move the mouse pointer to the icon that represents it on the screen, and double click on this object. In this way we are simultaneously using a software interface and a hardware interface to carry out the task.