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I always have trouble remembering whether the modal or modeless dialog is the one blocking operations in other parts of the application.
Does anyone know why they are called that way?
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Modal vs Modeless We call this type of element “modal” because it introduces a secondary “mode” — or user interface — to the web page on which it appears. A modal window disables most of the page and requires users to focus on a specific window before continuing.
Modal dialog boxes, which require the user to respond before continuing the program. Modeless dialog boxes, which stay on the screen and are available for use at any time but permit other user activities.
modeless (not comparable) (computing) Not modal; not having separate modes in which user input has different effects. (graphical user interface) Not modal; not requiring immediate user interaction and thus allowing interaction with other widgets.
Dialog (dialogue): A conversation between two people. In a user interface, a dialog is a “conversation” between the system and the user. Mode: A special state of the system in which the same system has somewhat different user interfaces.
With a modal dialog, you set your application in a particular mode (a different "state" if you will), whereby only actions pertaining to that "mode" are accepted, hence preventing UI actions outside of the dialog.
At Andreas' prompting I thought I may have to dig dusty Windows API books, as often, the etymology/origin of a word or expression that has became broadly accepted is only found in early documentation, but in fact we still see this referenced in an online glossary from MS. The Modal entry reads (emphasis is mine):
modal
Restrictive or limited interaction due to operating in a mode. Modal often describes a secondary window that restricts a user's interaction with the owner window. See also: modeless.
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A modal system is one with multiple "modes of operation". Such a system switches between modes by using key strokes, for example "Esc" "CTRL+S". A good example is the Vim text editor which switches between "edit text mode" and "navigate text mode".
A modal dialog is thus one which blocks the main program by switching it to a different mode for the duration of the operation.
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