single document interface (SDI)

The Single Document Interface(SDI) is a graphical user interface that can be used to manage only one document at a time.

The program interface supports only one window for displaying and editing one document. The program window corresponds to the document window. If this is closed, then the program is also terminated with it.

Most versions of Internet Explorer( IE) worked as a single document interface, and could only display one main window with one document. If several windows can be displayed at the same time, this is called Multiple Document Interface( MDI).