Chances are that you're curious about what interface to use on your operating system. Or maybe you want to learn about the difference between a GUI and a CLI.

Before delving into the main topic, you must understand what an interface is. An interface is a device or program that allows you to communicate or interact with a computer and make changes to it. Every operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) uses an interface, be it a GUI or a CLI. Without any of these interfaces, it would be practically impossible to do anything on the computer.

So, should you use a GUI or a CLI?

What Does GUI Mean?

The GUI (pronounced as 'G-U-I') stands for Graphical User Interface. It is the most common type of interface and allows you to communicate with your computer through visual graphics like icons, buttons, drag and drop features. Invented in the late 1970s, the Graphical User Interface (GUI) has since grown to be the standard user interface, with more and more companies making theirs. You are most probably using a GUI too.

Related: GUI? What Is a Graphic User Interface?

The GUI makes use of widgets that are manipulated by the user to perform functions on the computer. A widget is an element or component of the Graphical User Interface that allows you to communicate with your computer. Widgets can be basic like ribbons, scrollbars, and buttons, or can be more technical like windows, folders, and panels.

What Does CLI Mean?

CLI stands for command-line interface, and it is a text-based user interface. This means that you are only able to interact with the computer through text, code, and scripts. These texts are also called commands. When you type in a command, the computer responds with a text too. These commands enable you to view and open files, create and delete folders, install applications, and do everything you can do with a GUI.

Related: What Is the Linux Command Line and How Do You Use It?

The command-line interface was created in the early 1960s when computers could only be accessed using the command-line interface. Even with the advent of GUIs a decade later, many people still use the command-line interface. In Windows, there are two command-line interfaces options, in PowerShell and the Command Prompt. It is called Terminal in macOS and Linux.

What Is the Difference Between GUI and CLI?

The main difference between the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the Command Line Interface (CLI) is visualization. Visualization is the use of images, animations, or diagrams, to aid interaction between systems or represent information. With the CLI, you are only able to interact with the computer through text-based commands. But with the GUI, almost all visuals are clickable and easy to interact with.

What Are the Advantages of GUI?

Thinking of switching from CLI to GUI? Maybe you are just wondering if a GUI is better than a CLI? Read on to learn about the advantages of the graphical user interface over the command-line interface.

1. User-Friendliness and Usability

A GUI is very easy to operate and navigate. With little knowledge, anyone can navigate a GUI fairly well. But this is not so for the CLI; one has to be well versed in CLI commands to use them, while spelling or grammatical errors can render a command futile.

2. Easy to Learn

The graphical user interface is very easy to learn compared to the command-line interface. This is because it makes use of visualization and graphics. It is no news that people learn easier with visual aids. The CLI is more difficult to learn because its interface is not user-friendly, and you are required to learn many commands to be able to navigate the interface properly.

3. Customisability

You can customize the GUI to your taste. The GUI allows you to change the wallpaper, theme, font, resolution, icon and icon size, color, etc. This feature enables people with visual impairments like color blindness to customize their computers for easy use. The GUI is flexible. On the other hand, the CLI is very rigid. Little or no changes can be made to the command line or terminal.

What Are the Advantages of CLI?

Even though the CLI is older than the GUI, and a bit difficult to learn, it has its benefits. Read on to discover why you should use a command-line interface instead of a graphical user interface.

1. Speed

Is the CLI faster than the GUI? Yes, it is. Functions that would take numerous clicks and windows in the graphical user interface, could be typed and executed in a few seconds by the command line interface. Searching for updates or looking through a large directory can be done faster using the CLI than in the GUI. The GUI also takes more resources to run, making it slower than the CLI.

2. Automation

The command-line interface is perfect when doing repetitive tasks on a large scale. Imagine renaming hundreds of files in the GUI—it would take an age. In the CLI, large and tedious tasks can be automated using a script or command in the terminal.

3. Memory and Resources

Unlike the graphical user interface, the command-line interface uses less RAM and CPU processing time. This means that your computer would be at optimal speeds and work efficiently.

The CLI doesn't require many resources to run. To use the GUI, you would need a good monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. The CLI only requires a functional monitor and your keyboard.

4. Simplicity

If you are a fan of minimalism, you should consider using the command-line interface. Its basic interface and design would appeal to you better than that of the graphical user interface.

What Interface Should You Use?

There is no specific answer to this question, as the GUI and CLI both have pros and cons. Choosing an interface to use depends on what task you need to execute on your computer. Although the GUI is easy to learn and popular, learning the basics of the command-line interface is useful, whether you end up using it as your go-to interface option.