The screen background in a graphical user interface (GUI). The desktop provides access to a main menu of applications. It displays files, folders and applications as small graphics known as "icons," and people interact with the desktop by using a keyboard and mouse. See
GUI,
desktop and
user interface.
Although most people use a desktop environment, technicians may work with computers and terminals that are not graphics based, in which case all the content on screen is text (see
command line).