In computing, a graphical user interface (GUI,[1] sometimes pronounced "gooey" (or "gee-you-eye"))[2] is a type of interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators such as secondary notation, as opposed to text-based interfaces, typed command labels or text navigation. GUIs were introduced in reaction to the perceived steep learning curve of command-line interfaces (CLIs),[3][4][4] which require commands to be typed on the keyboard.
The actions in a GUI are usually performed through direct manipulation of the graphical elements.[5] In addition to computers, GUIs can be found in hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players, gaming devices and smaller household, office and industry equipment. The term "GUI" tends not to be applied to other low-resolution types of interfaces with display resolutions, such as video games (where HUD[6] is preferred), or not restricted to flat screens, like volumetric displays[7] because the term is restricted to the scope of two-dimensional display screens able to describe generic information, in the tradition of the computer science research at the PARC (Palo Alto Research Center).