A gauge control is a visual component of a user interface that displays information in an analog style, similar to a true analog gauge. It can be used to show the state of dynamically changing data relative to a static minimum and maximum value. Gauge controls can have sub-components and can be used for cosmetic purposes.
A gauge control in computer programming is a visual component of a user interface. It is designed to display information to a user in an analog style. The control is similar to a true analog gauge that can be seen on a car dashboard or in an aircraft cockpit. The general appearance is that of a circle or other radial quadrant with an indicator needle inside pointing to tick marks on the perimeter; those tick marks indicate a scale of the data represented. Using a gauge control can help a user see the state of the data when there is a minimum and maximum value.
User interface components, also called controls, are the building blocks of graphical user interfaces (GUIs). They can be as simple as a button or as complex as an animated three-dimensional (3D) graphic. While many of the components are simple and utilitarian, they can also be designed more artistically. Using an indicator control in an interface is one way to display digitally stored numbers in an analog way.
There are many styles of gauge control, most of which are modeled after real-world gauges, but all serve as a visualization tool. A gauge control is most effective at showing the current state of dynamically changing data relative to a static minimum and maximum value. As with a real indicator, a needle moves clockwise, pointing towards the edge of the indicator and indicating that the value of the variable is increasing. If it moves counterclockwise, it indicates that the variable is decreasing. If the needle is positioned on one of the two extremes of the caliper, it shows that the variable has reached its minimum or maximum value.
Meter controls can have several sub-components within their frame to express even more information in a compact area. An odometer-like counter-like mechanism can keep track of unlimitedly changing numerical data. The smaller dials within the gauge bezel can visualize how the peripheral data is doing relative to the main needle.
The use of a gauge can also be purely cosmetic. Having an array of analog-looking controls on a virtual dashboard can help bring a unique sense of style to an otherwise mundane application. In combination with interactive components such as simulated knobs and dials, it is possible to give the entire program the feel of a real machine instead of windowed software.
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