At a glance
- includes all visual and functional elements of a digital application
- different types of UI: GUI, CLI, VUI, NUI, and others
- distinction from UX: UI focuses on design, while UX focuses on the overall experience
- critical to software usability, efficiency, and user acceptance
What question do you have about user interfaces?
Your input is sent to an AI service to answer it and is stored to improve the answers. Please do not enter any personal data. Privacy policy
UI definition
A user interface (UI) is the interface between humans and machines and therefore refers to the visual and interactive part of an application with which users can interact. Users work with digital systems such as software, websites, or devices through the user interface.
It includes all visual and functional elements that enable users to operate the system, including buttons, menus, icons, and input fields. A well-designed UI is characterized by ease of use, intuitive navigation, and an appealing design, making interaction efficient, easy to understand, and pleasant for the user.
„Since we started working with DeltaMaster, we spot variances directly in the data display, without clicking through countless menus. The interface directs our attention precisely to where action is needed.“Head of Controlling
Industrial company
Types of user interfaces
- Brain computer interface (BCI): A brain computer interface (BCI) enables users to control computers or devices directly through their thoughts using EEG technology. It is being researched in areas such as prosthetic control, assistive systems, and gaming applications, particularly to provide people with disabilities with new ways to interact with technology.
- Command line interface (CLI): Text-based interfaces in which users interact with a system by entering commands, such as on computers.
- Graphical user interface (GUI): Graphical user interfaces are common in standard software and use visual elements such as windows, icons, and menus that can be operated with a mouse or touch. Today, the GUI is the standard user interface for computers.
- Natural user interface (NUI): A natural user interface (NUI) responds to natural forms of input such as voice, touch, or movement. It is used in gaming consoles such as Xbox and Wii, where users control the system through their own body movements or those of a controller.
- Perceptual user interface (PUI): A perceptual user interface (PUI) combines graphical, voice-based, and gesture-based controls. It is designed around natural forms of interaction and is being extensively researched to improve the perception and processing of stimuli.
- Tangible user interface (TUI): A tangible user interface (TUI) enables users to interact with digital systems through physical objects. It is often used in museums and educational settings to make abstract content more tangible and experiential.
- Text user interface (TUI): A text-based system that operates in text mode and enables navigation through menus. Text user interfaces (TUIs) are often used in setup programs, bootloaders, and operating system installations.
- Voice user interface (VUI): A voice user interface (VUI) is a voice-controlled interface that supports both voice input and output. Applications include connecting calls, converting speech to text, and using speech output as an accessibility aid.
Trusted by market leaders and hidden champions
What is the difference between UI and UX?
The difference between user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) lies primarily in their respective focus:
- User experience (UX) focuses on the overall interaction with a brand and its products or services.
- User interface (UI) refers to how users interact with a product and focuses specifically on the visual and interactive design of the interface — what users see and interact with.
| Feature | User interface (UI) | User experience (UX) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Visual and interactive design | Overall interaction experience |
| Question | What does it look like, and how is it operated? | How does using it feel? |
| Elements | Buttons, colors, typography, layout | User flow, information architecture, emotion |
| Goal | Intuitive, appealing interface | Positive, efficient overall experience |
| Analogy | The appearance and controls of a car | The driving experience and overall experience |
What makes a good user interface?
An effective UI in a business context needs to meet several requirements simultaneously:
- Intuitiveness: Users understand the interface without training
- Efficiency: Relevant information can be found and understood quickly
- Consistency: Consistent design principles reduce cognitive load
- Error tolerance: The system guides users safely and prevents incorrect inputs
- Accessibility: The interface can also be used by people with disabilities or other limitations
- Focus: Unimportant information recedes into the background while relevant information is emphasized
In a business intelligence context in particular, a UI is only effective if it speeds up decision-making rather than slowing it down.
What does a company need for a good user interface?
A powerful UI does not arise by chance but requires clear principles, expertise, and the interplay of several parties.
Application examples: Where is a user interface used?
Companies encounter user interfaces in nearly every digital application. Especially in the business intelligence environment, the design of the interface determines how quickly information is grasped and decisions are made.
Where would you like a good user interface?
Your input is sent to an AI service to answer it and is stored to improve the answers. Please do not enter any personal data. Privacy policy
Bissantz and user interfaces
The user interfaces of DeltaMaster and DeltaApp follow a clear design philosophy: They are not an end in themselves but part of a methodical approach to analysis that focuses on what matters most — recognizing, understanding, and acting on information relevant to decision-making. Bissantz sums up this principle in its guiding motto: “See. Understand. Act.”
Rather than following conventional graphical user interface patterns, such as decorative visuals, icons, or interactive gimmicks, Bissantz focuses on the cognitive optimization of the user interface (UI). The central question is how people can perceive and evaluate numbers more quickly and reliably — an approach supported by numerous scientific studies and patents such as Haptic Reasoning®.
UI principles in DeltaMaster and DeltaApp
- Typographically scaled numbers (Bissantz’ Numbers): Instead of using color codes or separate charts, the relevance of key figures is made directly visible through font size, emphasis, and position within the numerical display. Important values “stand out,” while less important ones recede into the background — without requiring additional explanation.
- Integrated microvisualizations: Sparklines, bars, proportions, and traffic-light indicators are embedded directly into tables to show trends, distributions, and outliers — close to the underlying content, compact, and without requiring additional interaction.
- Quiet interaction instead of click overload: The UI in DeltaMaster follows the principle of answering analytical questions with as few interaction steps as possible. Automated suggestions, smart navigation, and context-sensitive analyses reduce the effort required from users to a minimum.
- DeltaApp for mobile applications: The same philosophy applies on mobile devices: DeltaApp brings relevant key figures and variances to smartphones through clear, typographic, and visually condensed representations. Instead of dashboards overloaded with visualizations, it provides a mobile management cockpit focused on management attention — ideal for quick orientation and decision-making on the go.
Patented methodology: Haptic Reasoning®
A central element of Bissantz’s UI philosophy is the patented Haptic Reasoning® method. It describes the principle that the eye—much like the sense of touch—“feels” where action is required. Numbers are presented visually in a way that automatically directs attention to areas where anomalies occur—without additional “clicking,” “filtering,” or “configuring.” This visual intelligence turns the UI into an active partner in decision-making.
| Function | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Typographically scaled numbers | important values stand out directly within the number display, without any additional explanation |
| Integrated microvisualizations | trends and outliers become visible compactly right within tables |
| Quiet control | analytical questions can be answered with just a few interaction steps |
| DeltaApp for mobile applications | relevant key figures and variances clearly condensed on the smartphone |
| Haptic Reasoning® | attention is automatically directed to where action is needed |
„The typographically scaled numbers and integrated micro visualizations make reports readable for us without any training. Our users find relevant information considerably faster.“BI Manager
Food producer
Frequently asked questions
What is a user interface in simple terms?
A user interface is everything a user sees and interacts with when using software or an app — buttons, menus, input fields, colors, and fonts. It is the “surface” between the person and the system behind it. A good UI makes the software easy and intuitive to use; a poor UI causes frustration and slows users down.
What is the difference between UI and GUI?
GUI (graphical user interface) is a specific type of UI—namely, a graphical interface with visual elements such as windows, icons, and menus. UI is the broader term for all types of user interfaces, including text-based (CLI), voice-controlled (VUI), and touch-based interfaces. Today, GUI is the dominant form of UI for computers and mobile devices.
Why is a good UI important for business intelligence?
In a BI context, the UI determines how quickly users can grasp relevant information and turn it into decisions. An overloaded, confusing interface slows down analysis, while a cognitively optimized UI accelerates it. Bissantz has consistently implemented this principle with Haptic Reasoning® and Bissantz’ Numbers: The UI automatically directs attention to what matters most.
What is the difference between UI design and UX design?
UI design focuses on the visual and interactive interface—colors, typography, layouts, and buttons. UX design focuses on the entire user experience—user flow, information architecture, and emotional response. Good UI is a prerequisite for good UX, but UX encompasses much more: It begins with the first interaction with a product and does not end with the last click.
Summary
A user interface is the bridge between people and digital applications—and it has a major impact on how efficiently, intuitively, and comfortably a system can be used. In a business intelligence context, a cognitively optimized UI is particularly valuable: It directs attention to what matters most, reduces cognitive load, and accelerates decision-making. Bissantz consistently applies this approach in DeltaMaster and DeltaApp, using patented methods such as Haptic Reasoning® and typographically scaled numbers to turn data directly into decision-relevant insights.