front end

3 definitions found

front end - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  front end
      n 1: the side that is forward or prominent [syn: front, front end
           , forepart] [ant: back end, backside, rear]

front end - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  front end
  
     1. An intermediary computer that does set-up and filtering for
     another (usually more powerful but less friendly) machine (a
     "back end").
  
     2. Software that provides an interface to another program
     "behind" it, which may not be as user-friendly.  Probably
     from analogy with hardware front-ends that interfaced with
     mainframes.
  
     [Jargon File]
  

front end - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  front end
   n.
  
     1. An intermediary computer that does set-up and filtering for
  another
     (usually more powerful but less friendly) machine (a back end).
  
     2. What you're talking to when you have a conversation with someone
     who is making replies without paying attention. "Look at the dancing
     elephants!" "Uh-huh." "Do you know what I just said?" "Sorry, you
  were
     talking to the front end."
  
     3. Software that provides an interface to another program `behind'
  it,
     which may not be as user-friendly. Probably from analogy with
  hardware
     front-ends (see sense 1) that interfaced with mainframes.