A dialog box is a user interface element - a small window with interactive elements - designed to display information and request user action.
Dialog boxes can be invoked by software, user input, or an operating system and typically take on-screen priority, meaning they display in front/on top of all active content.
There are two main types of dialog boxes - modal and modeless.
- Modal dialog boxes prevent the user from accessing any other content within the software or operating system until input is provided.
- Modeless dialog boxes allow the user to access other content and provide input when they are ready.