Yale Style Manual-Graphic user interface glossary Contents Appendices Literature cited Multimedia bibliography Interface bibliography Interface glossary Buttons A rectangular graphic that is usually labeled with text to indicate its function.
Buttons usually perform an instantaneous action to initiate or conclude a process.
Check boxes never initiate or conclude an action, they are only used to set choices. An extremely important but often overlooked component of graphic interfaces. Cursors indicate the point of action or insertion on the screen, often acting as a virtual manipulator or hand tool for moving and editing on-screen objects. Dialog boxes Special windows that pop up to provide information or choices to the user. Note the way check boxes, radio buttons, buttons, default buttons, pop-up menus and text fields are used in the dialog box examples below.