Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

1. The GUI is the interaction channel between the user and the system. They can be found as standalone, on the web, on mobile devices, etc. They have both active and inactive portions that react to user actions

2. View: The display of the program's functions and the actions taken by the user.

   • Controller: provides the functional requirements of the program
     • Model: the package that is representing a context
   • User: the person using the program
     • <--- Actions
     • Outputs --->

3. The GUI refers to the View...

4. Elements of a GUI: Buttons, labels, images, text files, icons, etc.

5. Containers: the frame, panels

   • Frames: like it sounds it serves as a literal frame for the program, contains the basic functions of a program like minimize, expand, close etc. Example: JFrame
     • JFrame: uses methods to control the details of the GUI. Examples of methods: setSize, setResizable, setDefaultCloseOperation, setVisible, etc.
   • Panels: used to contain and divide the GUI elements within the frame
   • Layout: the organizational pattern that defines the view of the containers
     • Border Layout: organizes based on a compass rose, uses things like CENTER, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST to define placement
     • Grid Layout: organizes based on positions of a matrix, uses rows and columns to define placement