It was a valid question.
Problem is ... the terminologies can be a bit confusing to beginners of computer based recording.
For most intents and purposes (specially here in Newbies) a computer audio interface with analog I/O and/or digital I/O .... be it PCI, FireWire, USB or PCMCIA .... is in essence a soundcard. Regardless of whether or not it looks like a "card" or how it connects to the computer. So long as it functions to route audio in and out of the computer.
"Audio Interface" sounds a lot cooler than "Soundcard" too.