When you use your phone, open a website, or just click a button on a screen, you are using a user interface (UI). UI is a part of a device or app that you see and interact with. The buttons, icons, text, and layout are all part of the UI.
A good UI makes things easy to use, and a bad UI can cause confusion. In this blog, we will discuss what a user interface is, including its types and why it is important to improve the user experience. Whether you are new to this domain or just curious about it, this guide will help you understand UI in a simple way.
Table of Contents:
What is User Interface (UI)?
When you use a phone, computer, or visit a website, what you see and touch is called a User Interface (UI). Buttons, icons, text, images, and menus are all part of UI. When you tap on an app, swipe on your phone, or click a link on a website, it is all UI. UI helps you tell the device what you want to do. A good UI is supposed to be simple, clear, and easy to use, even for someone using it for the first time.
Types of User Interface (UI)
There are many ways people interact with computers, phones, and other devices. These are called different types of user interfaces. Here are the most common ones:
1. Graphical User Interface (GUI)
GUI is the most common type. It uses things like buttons, pictures, menus, and windows that you can click or tap. We use this type of interface when using apps on a phone or programs on a computer.
2. Voice User Interface (VUI)
This form of UI allows you to communicate with a device. You speak, then the device understands and responds. An example is when you issue a request to Siri or Alexa to play music or tell you the weather. You are using a voice user interface.
3. Touch User Interface
You can tap, swipe, and scroll on a screen with your fingers. This form of interface is used in smartphones, tablets, and touchscreen information kiosks. Most people find it very natural and easy.
4. Gesture-Based Interface
This type of UI is used when you move your hands or body to control something. For example, in one of the video games, to make a thing move, one can even wave the hand. This kind of UI is commonly applied in virtual reality (VR) and games.
5. Command Line Interface (CLI)
This is an older type of interface where you type commands using a keyboard. It gives text, no pictures or buttons. Computer professionals/developers are mostly the ones who utilize it.
6. Natural User Interface (NUI)
This user interface is so natural, such as talking, smiling, or making gestures. An example is, suppose your phone opens by looking at you or when you move your hand to skip a song, then this is a natural user interface.
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Difference Between UI and UX
Normally, people think that UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) are the same thing, but it is not true. So, let’s see what the difference is between UI and UX:
| Aspect |
UI (User Interface) |
UX (User Experience) |
| Definition |
UI is how a website or app looks and how you interact with it. |
UX is how you feel when using that website or app. |
| Focus |
The design: buttons, colors, icons, layout |
The experience: is it smooth, fast, and easy to use? |
| Main Concern |
How the product looks |
How the product works |
| Elements |
Buttons, icons, colors, typography, spacing |
User flow, wireframes, navigation, content structure |
| Tools Used |
Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop |
User research tools, flowcharts, journey maps, usability testing |
| Process |
Designing visual components and layouts. |
Research, testing, analyzing, and improving user experience. |
| Goal |
Make it pretty and clear |
Make it easy and enjoyable |
| Deliverables |
Mockups, prototypes, style guides |
Personas, wireframes, user journey maps |
Elements of User Interfaces
There are 3 types of elements in a user interface:
These elements allow the user to give data or control actions in the interface.
Example:
- Text Fields
- Buttons
- Checkboxes
- Radio Buttons
- Dropdown Menus
- Sliders
- Toggle Switches
- File Upload Fields
2. Output elements
These elements are used to display information to the user.
Example:
- Labels
- Images & Icons
- Progress Bars
- Notifications/Alerts
- Charts/Graphs
- Status Indicators
3. Helper elements
These elements support usability by guiding users, improving interaction, or organizing content.
Example:
- Tooltips
- Placeholders
- Modals/Popups
- Accordions
- Tabs
- Breadcrumbs
- Spacers/Dividers
How to Make a Great UI?
A UI is a very important part of any product. Creating a good UI means designing something that is not only attractive but is also easy to use. Let’s see how you can make a great UI:
- Keep it simple – Don’t add too many things on one screen. Less is more.
- Stick with it – You have to be consistent in terms of color used, font, and buttons in your design.
- Make important things stand out – Text or buttons with special information should be highlighted using the size, color, or bold text.
- Better navigation – It should be easy to find and understand the navbar section.
- Design for all devices – Ensure that the interface is good when using phones, tablets, and computers.
- Feedback to users – Give feedback to people when they interact with your site.
- Repetitive icons and structures – Avoid confusing users by using unusual designs for routine tasks.
- Make it easy to read – Remove the difficulty of reading by using simple fonts, large font, and gaps between various aspects.
- Test with real people – Give actual users a chance and see what they think about your UI, and correct anything that is perplexing and challenging.
- Accessibility – You should also use high contrast colors, alt text for images for better accessibility.
Emerging UI Trends
Here are some of the emerging UI (User Interface) trends. Let’s see them one by one:
- Dark Mode – A dark color design that is user-friendly, and most websites and apps have it as their default setting.
- Glassmorphism – An aesthetic “frosted glass” blur-and-transparency effect to create a newer and layered appearance of the UI.
- Neumorphism – The 3D appearance that is soft and gives you the feeling of buttons and cards coming out of the screen.
- Voice UI – Interfaces allowing the user to use their voice to control things through (utilized in smart apps, homes, and assistants).
- Artificial Intelligence Driven Personalization – The use of interfaces that help the user by presenting other content and suggestions based on user behavior.
To design websites and apps, UI/UX designers use different tools. Each tool helps in a different way, like making designs, creating samples (called prototypes), or testing ideas. Let’s look at the most helpful UI/UX tools and what they do.
1. Figma
- Figma is a free design tool that works online in your browser.
- You can use it to make web pages, app screens, and clickable samples (called prototypes).
- It’s perfect for beginners and for teams because many people can work on the same file together.
- There is no need of installation. Just make an account and start designing.
2. Adobe XD
- Adobe XD is a design tool made by Adobe.
- It helps you design app and website screens and also create interactive prototypes.
- By using Adobe XD, you can create and add simple animations to show how your design works.
- It works fine with other Adobe tools like Photoshop and Illustrator.
3. Sketch
- Sketch was once the most widely used UI/UX design tool, especially among Mac users.
- It is simple and great for making clean and modern designs.
- You can also use plugins (add-ons) to make your work faster.
- Sketch only works on Mac computers.
4. InVision
- InVision lets you change your designs into interactive prototypes.
- With the help of InVision, you can share your work with others easily and get feedback.
- You can use it to present how your design will work before creating the real product.
5. Canva
- Canva is an easy tool for beginners.
- It’s mostly used to make things like social media posts, slides, and banners.
- It can also be used to create simple UI designs for beginners.
- It works in your browser and has lots of ready-to-use templates.
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Conclusion
Good UI design means making apps and websites that are easy to use and nice to look at. By learning the main parts of a user interface, using popular trends, and choosing the right tools like Figma, anyone can create better designs. Always remember to keep it simple, think about the user, and test your design to make it better. With practice, your UI skills will grow quickly.
You can also check UI Developer Interview Questions and our UI/UX Design course to learn more about UI and UX.
What is User Interface (UI) – FAQs
Q1. What is UI?
UI means User Interface. It’s what you see and touch on a screen, like buttons, text, and images.
Q2. Why is UI important?
UI helps people use apps and websites easily. A good UI makes things simple and clear.
Q3. Is UI the same as UX?
No. UI is how it looks. UX is how it feels to use. Both work together.
Q4. Where do we use UI?
We see UI in phones, websites, apps, TVs, and even in cars – any screen you use.
Q5. Can anyone learn UI?
Yes, with some practice and simple tools, anyone can learn to make or understand UI.