MDIbased

MDIbased refers to software architecture that uses a Multi-Document Interface (MDI). In an MDIbased application, a single top‑level window (the parent) contains multiple child windows, each representing a document or view. The user can switch among documents within the same main frame, rather than opening separate top-level windows. The parent window provides common menus and toolbars, while the MDI client area hosts the document windows.

Typically, MDI places documents inside the client area and supports tiling, cascading, or quick switching between documents. The OS window manager handles the child windows as MDI children. In Windows, MDI uses an MDICLIENT frame and MDI child windows; many frameworks, including MFC, WinForms, and Qt, provide built‑in MDI support.

MDIbased was popular in the 1990s and early 2000s for IDEs and office-type applications, offering a centralized workspace for related documents. In later years many apps moved to single-document interfaces or tabbed/docking layouts for better usability and modern UI guidelines.

Advantages include consolidated workspace and consistent application controls within a single window; however, MDI introduces complexity in window management and can be less friendly on touch-friendly or high-DPI displays. It is also less aligned with modern UI trends.

Today, MDI remains supported in some toolkits for legacy projects, but new software commonly favors tabbed interfaces or SDI with docking panels. Toolkits such as Qt (QMdiArea) and Windows frameworks continue to provide MDI options.