The end-user is a concept in software engineering, referring to an abstraction of the group of persons who will ultimately operate a piece of software (i.e. the expected user or target-user).

This abstraction is meant to be useful in information which is believed to be relevant in a specific project.

When little constraints are imposed on the end-user category, i.e. when writing/publishing programs for the general public, it is common practice to expect minimal technical expertise or previous training. This is also the general meaning associated with the term end user (see also Luser). In this context, easy-to-learn GUIs (possibly with a touch interface) are usually preferred over more sophisticated command line interfaces for the sake of usability.[1]

In certain projects where the Actor of the System is another System or a Software then it is quite possible that you do not have an end user for your system. And the end users for the system, which is an actor for yours', would be indirect end users for you.

[edit] See also

• End-user computing
• End-user development
• User Rights (software)
• End-user monitoring
• Luser
• User (computing)
• User interface