Window (computing)
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- This article is about the graphical display of the functions of a computer in a viewport. For the data transmission period, see computer networking.
A window is a visual area, usually rectangular in shape, containing some kind of user interface, displaying the the output of and allowing input for one of a number of simultaneously running computer processes. Windows are primarily associated with graphical displays, where they can be manipulated with a pointer. However, many programs with text user interfaces, for example Emacs, allow their display to be divided into areas which may also be referred to as "windows".
A graphical user interface (GUI) which uses the window as one of its primary metaphors is called a windowing system. This idea was developed as a part of the WIMP paradigm at Xerox PARC.
Windows are depicted as two-dimensional objects (like papers or books) arranged on on a desktop. Most windows can be resized, moved, hidden, restored, and closed at will. When two overlap, one is on top of the other, with the covered part of the lower window not visible. The part of a windowing system which manages these operations is called a window manager.
Windows are a popular feature (or widget) in several graphical user interfaces (especially WIMP ones). DEC Windows (for VMS), X Window System (for GNU & Unix-like systems), Microsoft Windows and IBM's Open Windows are named after this feature.de:Fenster (Computer) ja:ウィンドウ pl:Okno (informatyka) wa:Purnea