Master–detail interface

In computer user interface design, a master–detail interface displays a master list and the details for the currently selected item.

A master area can be a form, list or tree of items, and a detail area can be a form, list or tree of items typically placed either below or next to the master area.^[1] Selecting an item from the master list causes the details of that item to be populated in the detail area.^[2][3]

A master-detail relationship is a one-to-many type relationship. Examples of a master-detail relationship are: a set of purchase orders and a set of line items belonging to each purchase order, an expense report with a set of expense line items or a department with a list of employees belonging to it. An application can use this master-detail relationship to enable users to navigate through the purchase order data and see the detail data for line items only related to the master purchase order selected.

See also

• Form (programming)

Notes

1. ^ "Master/Detail Templates". Oracle. http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/blaf/specs/masterDetail_template.html. Retrieved 2008-11-15. 
2. ^ Mitchell, Scott (June 2006). "Tutorial 7: Master/Detail Filtering With a DropDownList". Microsoft Developer Network. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa581789.aspx. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
3. ^ "Creating a Master-Detail Interface". Apple. http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/CocoaBindings/Tasks/masterdetail.html. Retrieved 2008-11-15.