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Definition: console app


An application that uses the command line for input and output rather than a graphical interface (GUI). For example, utility programs that perform a single function or that run in the background are often written as console apps. Batch processing programs that have no user interaction other than to start them are console apps. Many DOS utilities, which never had a graphical interface (GUI) in the first place, were turned into Windows console apps when Windows became mainstream. Contrast with GUI.




A Windows Console App
This encyclopedia test program runs from the command line and displays all results on the command line. Typical of console apps, after the program is started, it runs until it finishes analyzing the entire file with no user interaction in between. Console programs do not use the graphics-based interface (GUI) in Windows, Mac, iOS or Android.