## 25 gdb Text User Interface

The gdb Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal interface which uses the `curses` library to show the source file, the assembly output, the program registers and gdb commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only on platforms where a suitable version of the `curses` library is available.

The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke gdb as ‘`gdb -tui`’. You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while gdb runs by using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as `C-x C-a`. See TUI Key Bindings.