Skin vs theme, what is the difference?

Question

What is the difference between skin and theme?

I have looked at this articles:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_%28computing%29
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_%28computer%29

and there is only one difference: theme is less "complicated" then skin. Like different set of icons and colors in theme, but skin can change UI control appearance (checkbox vs switch for ON/OFF control) in programmatic way which can be done by styling/CSS.

That difference in answer if it applied to WEB-app vs desktop application?

UPDATE. I have added the ability to change the look of the program via configuration file (icons, colors, element position). Is that skin or theme?

Answer 1

I would say the difference is minor. My gut feeling says that I would call something which alters the appearance and feel of an interface a skin while I would call something which only alters the appearance a theme. A skin could add an extra button to allow for easier access to some of the underlying program's functionality, for example.

I have added the ability to change the look of the program via configuration file (icons, colors, element position). Is that skin or theme?

That would be a theme (by my logic). In reality, though, most people will use the two terms interchangeably.

Answer 2

A Theme is a combination of multiple features that not only defines the layout of the website but also add additional features to your site. So a theme may consist of combination of skins and modules.

Whereas Skin is something that is purely related to your website appearance like it's color, block placement and other factors related to its layout.

UPDATE. I have added the ability to change the look of the program via configuration file (icons, colors, element position). Is that skin or theme?

I would agree with @timgeb that you are actually configuring skin of your theme.