Cycle button
Encyclopedia
A cycle button is a graphical user interface
element
that allows the user to choose one from a predefined set of options. It is used as a button
the content of which changes with each click
and cycles between two or more values; the currently displayed value is the user's choice.
A cycle button's advantage over radio button
s or a list box is that it takes less screen space; its advantage over a drop-down list
is that a single mouse click is enough to switch between the two options.
However, a disadvantage is that, if the button has a lot of options, a lot of clicks are needed to switch to the desired one. This is why some GUI environments have the ability to display the same element as a cycle button or a drop-down list, depending on the number of options.
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
element
Elements of graphical user interfaces
Graphical user interfaces, also known as GUIs, offer a consistent visual language to represent information stored in computers. This makes it easier for people with little computer skills to work with and use computer software....
that allows the user to choose one from a predefined set of options. It is used as a button
Button (computing)
In computing, a button is a user interface element that provides the user a simple way to trigger an event, like searching for a query at a search engine, or to interact with dialog boxes, like confirming an action.-Description:A typical button is a rectangle or rounded rectangle, wider than it is...
the content of which changes with each click
Point-and-click
Point-and-click is the action of a computer user moving a cursor to a certain location on a screen and then pressing a mouse button, usually the left button , or other pointing device...
and cycles between two or more values; the currently displayed value is the user's choice.
A cycle button's advantage over radio button
Radio button
A radio button or option button is a type of graphical user interface element that allows the user to choose only one of a predefined set of options....
s or a list box is that it takes less screen space; its advantage over a drop-down list
Drop-down list
In computing with graphical user interfaces, a drop-down list is a user interface control GUI element , similar to a list box, which allows the user to choose one value from a list. When a drop-down list is inactive, it displays a single value. When activated, it displays a list of values, from...
is that a single mouse click is enough to switch between the two options.
However, a disadvantage is that, if the button has a lot of options, a lot of clicks are needed to switch to the desired one. This is why some GUI environments have the ability to display the same element as a cycle button or a drop-down list, depending on the number of options.