In the field of computing, the term interface is used to name the functional connection that exists between two programs, systems or devices, which provides communication at various levels, making an exchange of information possible. There are two types of interfaces: user interfaces and physical interfaces.
The user interface is the place where the interaction between man and computer originates. This type of interface includes various elements such as graphic content, windows, the mouse, the cursor, certain sounds that the computer makes, in short, all those channels that make communication between the computer and the user possible.
The purpose of designing an interface is that it be easy to understand, efficient and interesting, so that when operating the machine, the result obtained is the desired one.
Its main functions are: on and off functions; mastery of the team's steerable functions; contact with other systems; access control; information status; management of files and directories, among others.
Within the user interface, three types can be distinguished:
The hardware interface: refers to all the devices that are used to access, process and deliver data (screen, mouse and keyboard).
The software interface: it is used to deliver information, concerning the processes and control mechanisms, through what the person frequently observes on the screen.
The software and hardware interface: it is the one that establishes a link between the computer and the user, allowing the equipment to understand the instructions and the user to understand the binary code interpreted in a readable way.
The physical interface, for its part, refers to the physical circuit, through which signals are received or sent from one system to others. There is no global interface, but different types can be found: SCSI interface, USB interface, etc., which establish a specific technical definition, therefore interconnection is possible if the same interface is used at the source and destination.
When the term is used within the internet area, the interface refers to all those elements that are reflected on the screen and that make it possible for the user to carry out different specific actions.
