Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) is a software development document that attempts to create a common look and feel with other applications in a particular desktop environment, by enumerating specific policies. Policy decisions are often based on studies of human-computer interaction, and the guidelines are typically aimed at user-friendliness and making the interfaces more "intuitive".

Human User Interface guidelines will dictate a set of rules for general usability, as well as visual design including icons design and style, user input and interaction and language style. A HIG will probably also define standard terminology and semantics related to certain elements or actions.

The central aim of a HIG is to create a consistent experience across the environment (generally an operating system or desktop environment), including the applications and other tools being used. This means both applying the same visual design and creating consistent access to and behaviour of common elements of the interface - from simple ones such as buttons and icons up to more complex constructions, such as dialog boxes.

See Also:

• Human-computer interaction
• Usability
• User friendliness

External Links:

• GNOME Human Interface Guidelines
• KDE User Interface Guidelines
• Apple HIG
• Apple Human Interface Guidelines
• Microsoft Windows User Experience
• Windows XP - Guidelines for Applications