MDI vs. SDI

Main Difference

SDI stands for Single Document Interface while MDI stands for Multiple Document Interface. They can be further elaborated in a way that, a Graphic User Interface which is able to show one document at a time on the screen is known as SDI while the interface where multiple documents can be showed at one time is known as MDI.

MDI vs. SDI — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between MDI and SDI

MDI vs. SDI

All the documents can be maximized in the MDI while there needs to be a special command in order to maximize the documents.

MDI vs. SDI

Graphic User Interface which is able to show one document at a time on the screen is known as SDI while Graphic User Interface which is able to show more than one document at a time on the screen is known as MDI.

MDI vs. SDI

SDI stands for Single Document Interface while MDI stands for Multiple Document Interface.

MDI vs. SDI

Documents can be switched easily in the MDI while command window is used to switch between them in SDI.

MDI vs. SDI

The best example of SDI is windows notepad while the best example of MDI is the latest web browsers.

MDI vs. SDI

There is grouping once more than the required number of tabs are opened in MDI while this is not possible in SDI.

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Comparison Chart

MDISDI
Multiple Document InterfaceSingle Document Interface
Type
It is the type of Graphic User Interface which is able to show more than a single document at a time on the screen.It is a Graphic User Interface which is able to show one document at a time on the screen.
Maximization
All the documents can be maximized in the MDIThere needs to be a special command in order to maximize the documents.
Example
Latest web browsers.windows notepad
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What is SDI?

This is a term which is known as Single Document Interface and is a Graphic User Interface which is able to show one document at a time on the screen. Any type of program which does not have the ability to show more than one document is considered to be and SDI type of user interface. There are many examples of this type such as internet explorer 6 and the ones before that. Notepad is another example where you can just show one window at a time and windows command is another similar application. The main advantage of this type of interface is that it is simple to use and a complicated task can be performed in an easy manner without switching from one app to the other.

What is MDI?

This term is known as Multiple Document Interface and is the type of Graphic User Interface which is able to show more than a single document at a time on the screen. Any type of program which has the ability to show more than one document is considered to be and MDI type of user interface. The best examples of this type of interface include all the latest web browsers where multiple tabs can be opened at the same time to see all the information that is required. The main advantage of such type of interface is that the work can be performed quickly as compared to one screen but the main disadvantage is that the latest opened windows are not shown once they are closed.

Conclusion

Computer is something that is a mystery for people who are general users and do not have a detailed knowledge of it. The two terms MDI and SDI are similar ones which are considered same but are different in the working and functions. This article, therefore, gives a proper understanding of the two types for people to get a clearer idea.