Interface is a contract that defines how different parts of a system should interact, like a peace treaty between warring factions of programmers. It's a way to keep the front-end developers from complaining about the back-end developers breaking their precious UIs every time they refactor something.

How to use it in a sentence

• "I don't care how you implement it, just make sure it conforms to the interface we agreed on!" barked the grizzled tech lead to the trembling junior developer.

• The young programmer thought she had found the perfect solution, but then she remembered the wise words of her mentor: "Always code to an interface, not an implementation."

If you actually want to learn more...

• Fluent Interface: Learn how to create interfaces that make your code read like a conversation with a slightly pretentious but well-meaning friend.

• Role Interface: Discover the secret to creating interfaces that define specific interactions between suppliers and consumers, like a matchmaker for your code.

• Header Interface: Find out how to create an interface that mimics the public methods of a class, like a stunt double for your code.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.