Desktop

Desktop refers to the surface of a desk.

The term has been adopted as an adjective to distinguish office appliances (such as photocopiers and printers) which can be fitted on top of a desk, from larger equipment covering its own area on the floor.

Desktop may also refer to:

  • Desktop computer, a personal computer designed to fit on a desk
    • Pizza box form factor, a design of computer case
  • Desktop metaphor, especially the area behind the windows in a GUI using this metaphor
    • Desktop environment, software that provides a comprehensive computer user interface
  • Client (computing), sometimes referred to as desktop to distinguish from the server