noun, verb, -faced, -fac⋅ing.| 1. | a surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases. |
| 2. | the facts, problems, considerations, theories, practices, etc., shared by two or more disciplines, procedures, or fields of study: the interface between chemistry and physics. |
| 3. | a common boundary or interconnection between systems, equipment, concepts, or human beings. |
| 4. | communication or interaction: Interface between the parent company and its subsidiaries has never been better. |
| 5. | a thing or circumstance that enables separate and sometimes incompatible elements to coordinate effectively: The organization serves as an interface between the state government and the public. |
| 6. | Computers.
|
| 7. | to bring into an interface. |
| 8. | to bring together; connect or mesh: The management is interfacing several departments with an information service from overseas. |
| 9. | to be in an interface. |
| 10. | to function as an interface. |
| 11. | to meet or communicate directly; interact, coordinate, synchronize, or harmonize (often fol. by with): The two communications systems are able to interface with each other. |
interface in·ter·face (ĭn'tər-fās')
n.
A surface forming a common boundary between adjacent regions or bodies.
interface jargon
A boundary across which two systems communicate. An interface might be a hardware connector used to link to other devices, or it might be a convention used to allow communication between two software systems. Often there is some intermediate component between the two systems which connects their interfaces together. For example, two EIA-232 interfaces connected via a serial cable.
See also graphical user interface, Application Program Interface.
(1996-05-22)
interface
surface separating two phases of matter, each of which may be solid, liquid, or gaseous. An interface is not a geometric surface but a thin layer that has properties differing from those of the bulk material on either side of the interface. A common interface is that between a body of water and the air, which exhibits such properties as surface tension, by which the interface acts somewhat like a stretched elastic membrane. Interfacial effects, or processes that occur at interfaces, include the evaporation of liquids, the action of detergents and chemical catalysts, and the adsorption of gases on metals
Learn more about interface with a free trial on Britannica.com.