Difference between GUI and command line
Main Difference GUI vs command line

Comparative chart GUI vs command line
GUI | Command line | |
Full name | Graphical user interface | CLL full name |
Guy | It is the simplest form of communication that can be done between the user and the computer. | It is the traditional way of making computers do the required task. |
Function | It makes use of devices such as the mouse or keyboard to enter instructions and for the computer to execute them. | The instructions must be entered manually in the command window in a few lines and the device ends up acting according to them. |
Profits | The GUI also offers maximum control, but advanced operations cannot be performed through it. | There is more control when it comes to using CLI and file systems |
GUI definition GUI vs command line
It is the simplest form of communication that can be done between the user and the computer and makes use of devices such as the mouse or keyboard to enter instructions and for the computer to execute them. It takes a lot longer to get to the point required, but people who don’t have much knowledge of the system can even perform these tasks with light training. There are different shortcuts for applications, folders, and destinations that you can click to open and perform the task. This uses more system resources, but is easy to understand and offers the option of multitasking.
Command line definition

It is the traditional way of making computers perform the required task and the instructions have to be entered manually in the command window in few lines and the device ends up acting according to them. It takes less time as the code is small and the main task is completed quickly while less space is required in the system to perform the actions, but the main drawback is that only one specific function can be performed at any given time while a Normal person cannot use it effectively, since it is necessary to learn specific instructions in order to communicate.
Differences in a nutshell
- GUI is known as graphical user interface, while command line interface is the name of CLI.
- The GUI uses external devices to enter instructions for the computer to predict while CUI uses text-based commands that are entered in the command window.
- For a new user, the GUI is easy to understand, while the CLI is complicated and difficult to get used to.
- There is more control when it comes to using the CLI and file systems along with operating systems can be managed in a better way. The GUI also offers maximum control, but advanced operations cannot be performed through it.
- While using the GUI, many tasks can be performed at the same time, but when it comes to CLI, a specific task can be performed in the window due to complexity.
- Working with the help of the GUI can take longer as many options have to be clicked before reaching the main task, while in the CLI people can easily type a few lines to perform the action they need.
- More space is required on the system when implementing GUI, while less is required when using CLI.
- There are more scripting options when using the command line interface and the GUI cannot compete with it in this regard.
Computer architecture is something that is a mystery to people who are general users and do not have detailed knowledge of it. The two terms GUI and command line are similar which are considered the same but are different in operation and functions. This article, therefore, provides a proper understanding of the two types so that people have a clearer idea.