Text-based
Encyclopedia
Usually used in reference to a computer application, a text-based application
is one whose primary input and output are based on text rather than graphics
or sound. This does not mean that text-based applications do not have graphics or sound, just that the graphics or sound are secondary to the text.
s were text-based. The operator
used the keyboard
as the main input device
to type in necessary commands into the terminal
that could only display text on a low-resolution monochrome video monitor
. The majority of end-user software was also written in text-based mode during this time. During this era, operating a computer was considered to be a challenging task because of the complexity of the text-based environment.
However, with the development of the graphical user interface
and the improvement in hardware, many software engineer
s started adding graphics for their applications. As a result, the pointing device that controls the coordination of the cursor on the screen became a primary input source (such as a mouse
), and the graphics displayed with some text on the screen became a primary output source.
There is a lot of text-based software in modern operating system
s, particularly in Unix
and Unix-like
, which can usually be accessed through the shell
running in a system (or virtual) console or a terminal emulator. In these operating systems text-based programs continue to be the primary software for system administration, programming and scripting. On the contrary, Microsoft Windows
contains far less text-based software, which is essentially the remnants due to the MS-DOS
ancestry, even though there are still several programs for system administration and critical maintenance.
When the method used to access the operating system itself is text-based, the interface is usually referred to as a Command Line Interface (CLI). This function is carried out by various shells
in Unix and Unix-like operating systems, and CMD
and PowerShell in Microsoft Windows.
Command line interfaces often provide the user more control on the software than a graphical user interface
, by taking all the details of a command as parameters and/or by redirecting the outputs between commands. Since the available parameters are not explicitly enumerated, the application can accept many more options than an equivalent GUI-based software: a high number of options in a GUI would make it too complex and impractical, but that doesn't happen in a CLI. Thus the text-based input can provide more flexibility at the cost of learnability
and a burden
on user's memory.
As a result, text-based software can offer more powerful features than graphic-based software, such as combining the command using a pipeline
that allows output of the first command to be used as the input of the next command. Using this, a complex operation can be accomplished in a single command line using a sequence of commands connected together in a pipeline.
In certain circumstances, text-based application offers faster user interaction than the graphic-based software does. Assuming that the user is fluent with typing, the user can enter commands faster than when using the graphical interface, because the users do not have to move their hands from the keyboard to enter different commands.
Text-based software also has limitations on its output as well. Text-based output may not be considered very attractive to many users, and may be difficult to understand (compared to an output involving graphics). Therefore, certain operations cannot be implemented using text-based software, due to its limitation of range in its input and output.
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
is one whose primary input and output are based on text rather than graphics
Graphics
Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings,or...
or sound. This does not mean that text-based applications do not have graphics or sound, just that the graphics or sound are secondary to the text.
History
Before the 1980s, most computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s were text-based. The operator
Computer operator
A role within IT, computer operators oversee the running of computer systems, ensuring that the machines are running and physically secured. The traditional role of a computer operator was to work with mainframes which required a great deal of management day-to-day, however nowaday they often work...
used the keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
as the main input device
Input device
In computing, an input device is any peripheral used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance...
to type in necessary commands into the terminal
Computer terminal
A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system...
that could only display text on a low-resolution monochrome video monitor
Video monitor
A video monitor also called a broadcast monitor, broadcast reference monitor or just reference monitor, is a display device similar to a television set, used to monitor the output of a video-generating device, such as playout from a video server, IRD, video camera, VCR, or DVD player. It may or...
. The majority of end-user software was also written in text-based mode during this time. During this era, operating a computer was considered to be a challenging task because of the complexity of the text-based environment.
However, with the development of the graphical user interface
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...
and the improvement in hardware, many software engineer
Software engineer
A software engineer is an engineer who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers or anything containing software, such as computer chips, work.- Overview :...
s started adding graphics for their applications. As a result, the pointing device that controls the coordination of the cursor on the screen became a primary input source (such as a mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
), and the graphics displayed with some text on the screen became a primary output source.
There is a lot of text-based software in modern operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s, particularly in Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
and Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
, which can usually be accessed through the shell
Shell (computing)
A shell is a piece of software that provides an interface for users of an operating system which provides access to the services of a kernel. However, the term is also applied very loosely to applications and may include any software that is "built around" a particular component, such as web...
running in a system (or virtual) console or a terminal emulator. In these operating systems text-based programs continue to be the primary software for system administration, programming and scripting. On the contrary, Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
contains far less text-based software, which is essentially the remnants due to the MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
ancestry, even though there are still several programs for system administration and critical maintenance.
When the method used to access the operating system itself is text-based, the interface is usually referred to as a Command Line Interface (CLI). This function is carried out by various shells
Shell (computing)
A shell is a piece of software that provides an interface for users of an operating system which provides access to the services of a kernel. However, the term is also applied very loosely to applications and may include any software that is "built around" a particular component, such as web...
in Unix and Unix-like operating systems, and CMD
CMD
CMD may refer to:* Camden Road railway station, a station in London, England * Canis Major Dwarf, a small galaxy orbiting the Milky Way* Catastrophe à moyens dépassé, a French phrase meaning "disaster without sufficient rescue means"...
and PowerShell in Microsoft Windows.
Benefits of text-based software
Text-based applications typically run faster than software involving graphics does. Text-based applications run faster because the machine does not expend resources on processing the graphics, which generally requires more system resources than text does. For the same reason, text-based applications use memory more efficiently.Command line interfaces often provide the user more control on the software than a graphical user interface
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...
, by taking all the details of a command as parameters and/or by redirecting the outputs between commands. Since the available parameters are not explicitly enumerated, the application can accept many more options than an equivalent GUI-based software: a high number of options in a GUI would make it too complex and impractical, but that doesn't happen in a CLI. Thus the text-based input can provide more flexibility at the cost of learnability
Learnability
-Software testing:In software testing learnability, according to ISO/IEC 9126, is the capability of a software product to enable the user to learn how to use it...
and a burden
Cognitive load
The term cognitive load is used in cognitive psychology to illustrate the load related to the executive control of working memory . Theories contend that during complex learning activities the amount of information and interactions that must be processed simultaneously can either under-load, or...
on user's memory.
As a result, text-based software can offer more powerful features than graphic-based software, such as combining the command using a pipeline
Pipeline (software)
In software engineering, a pipeline consists of a chain of processing elements , arranged so that the output of each element is the input of the next. Usually some amount of buffering is provided between consecutive elements...
that allows output of the first command to be used as the input of the next command. Using this, a complex operation can be accomplished in a single command line using a sequence of commands connected together in a pipeline.
In certain circumstances, text-based application offers faster user interaction than the graphic-based software does. Assuming that the user is fluent with typing, the user can enter commands faster than when using the graphical interface, because the users do not have to move their hands from the keyboard to enter different commands.
Limitations of text-based software
Many users may not find an application with a text-based interface very user-friendly. This is especially true for beginning computer users. While the user may learn how to operate the software by simply playing around or navigating through given options, a text-based system usually requires users to have a more detailed understanding of the commands. Many text-based applications have a menu or help system that shows the user some (or all) of the available options of the software.Text-based software also has limitations on its output as well. Text-based output may not be considered very attractive to many users, and may be difficult to understand (compared to an output involving graphics). Therefore, certain operations cannot be implemented using text-based software, due to its limitation of range in its input and output.
See also
- Text-based game
- Text user interfaceText user interfaceTUI short for: Text User Interface or Textual User Interface , is a retronym that was coined sometime after the invention of graphical user interfaces, to distinguish them from text-based user interfaces...
- Console applicationConsole applicationA console application is a computer program designed to be used via a text-only computer interface, such as a text terminal, the command line interface of some operating systems or the text-based interface included with most Graphical User Interface operating systems, such as the Win32 console in...
- Box drawing charactersBox drawing charactersBox drawing characters, also known as line drawing characters, or pseudographics, are widely used in text user interfaces to draw various frames and boxes...