How does a graphical user interface differ from a text-command interface?

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A laptop computer — personal computer Programmers may use computer science to design portable computers such as laptops.

A graphical user interface (GUI) differs from a text-command interface—often referred to as a command-line interface—primarily in how a user interacts with a computer.1

Interaction Method: Text-command interfaces require users to type specific, often arcane commands to perform tasks. In contrast, a GUI enables communication through visual metaphors, symbols, and pointing devices like a mouse.1
Usability: GUIs are designed to be intuitive, using a "virtual desktop" metaphor where icons represent files or activities. This replaces the need to memorize and type limited sets of commands, making computer operation generally easier to learn and more natural.1
Visual Feedback: GUIs utilize bit mapping to display information as pictures, allowing for features like windows, menus, and "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) editing, which provides a more flexible and visual experience compared to the text-based output of earlier systems.1

While text-command interfaces were once the standard for professionals, the GUI became the dominant interface for personal computers by the 1990s.1