A windowing system is a software package that displays multiple windows simultaneously on a single display device, and directs keyboard and mouse input into individual windows.
Windowing systems have window managers that perform a variety of functions.
The window manager allows you to change the characteristics of individual windows, such as size or position. The window manager directs input from the keyboard and mouse into an active window, and handles interaction between windows, such as cutting and pasting between windows. Most windowing systems, including the X Window System, share these characteristics. This chapter contains information on two X Window System environments, Motif and Open Windows. Information on the following topics is included.