Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · HMI, SCADA and operations

HMI software

Also known as: HMI runtime, HMI configuration software

German: HMI (Human Machine Interface)

In industrial automation, HMI software is the software used to create and run human-machine interfaces: an engineering tool in which screens, tags, alarms and recipes are configured, and a runtime that executes the project on an operator panel or PC.

  • HMI and SCADA

In one sentence

HMI software is the engineering tool and runtime used to configure and run operator screens, tags, alarms and recipes.

Example

The machine builder configures the screens in the HMI engineering tool, compiles the project and downloads it to the panel's runtime.

How it applies

  • Engineering: HMI projects are configured, not programmed from scratch: screen objects, tag connections to the controller, alarm classes, user administration and recipes. Runtime licenses often depend on the number of tags or clients.
  • Maintenance: Keep the HMI project version, runtime version and panel firmware compatible. Store the project under version control as part of the machine's Configuration baseline.
  • Documentation: Screen texts, alarm texts and help texts live in the HMI project. Export them for translation and terminology review instead of retyping, and reimport the translations so the operating manual and HMI use identical wording.

HMI software vs. HMI

The Human-machine interface (HMI) is the interface the operator uses, including hardware and screen design. HMI software is the tool and runtime that produce it. In everyday speech, "the HMI" can mean either, so specify in documents.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Blog editorial definition, based on HMI engineering practice

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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