What do you mean by a GUI application

[Antonio1]

Hi,
Just learning about Windows online I discovered some simple and frequently used terms. This terms are easy to understand, but what matters here is the concept behind it. Like if someone says that Windows is a GUI application then it simply means to the graphical look. What more you can add in this. In the same way you here console applications. Are they related to MS-DOS. And in the same way what does Windows API means. Thanks in advance.

[Calvin K]

GUI stands for Graphical User Interface that is to say for Graphic User Interface. A GUI Applicationis an application fully integrated into the Windows graphical environment. Such an application usually has a main window with possibly a menu, buttons and other gadgets graphics and it can also display window. This applies, for example applications running in the background. Sometimes, we say simply a Windows Application to say it a GUI Application, which is generally confusing.

[Lillebror]

A console application is a Windows application that runs in a console. A console is a window that serves as an interface between an application without a GUI (behind console) and the user (which is opposite to the console). The user input are widely using the keyboard. And in case of MS-DOS this application does not belongs to it. So you cannot run such type of applications under DOS mode.

[jesse]

Basically, an API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of functions exposed by the software to provide services to other software. The Windows API is the set of functions exposed by Windows to enable applications to request service (create a window display, close, etc.).. These functions are contained in various DLLs. Most of the time, your applications will use Kernel32.dll which contains the functions. These files are all located in the system directory (system32). Suited to the DLLs that you use, you must add the corresponding import files in entries of the linker (kernel32.lib, user32.lib, gdi32.lib). In principle, this is already done by your development environment when you create a Windows Application project.