Text-based user interface (
TUI), also called
textual user interface or
terminal user interface, is a
retronym that was coined sometime after the invention of
graphical user interfaces, to distinguish a
text-based interface that processes events from
command-line interfaces that operate sequentially. An advanced TUI may, like GUIs, use the entire screen area and accept
mouse input. A TUI does not necessarily provide line-by-line output, although TUIs only use text,
symbols and
colors available on a given text environment.
VisiCalc and the
Emacs and
vi visual editors are the earliest examples of TUIs.