Peripheral

A peripheral or peripheral device is ancillary device used to put information into and get information out of the computer.[1]

Several categories of peripheral devices may be identified, based on their relationship with the computer:

• An input device sends data or instructions to the computer, such as a mouse, keyboard, graphics tablet, image scanner, barcode reader, game controller, light pen, light gun, microphone, digital camera, webcam, dance pad, and read-only memory);
• An output device provides output from the computer, such as a computer monitor, projector, printer, headphones and computer speaker); and
• An input/output device performs both input and output functions, such as a computer data storage device (including a disk drive, USB flash drive, memory card and tape drive).

Many modern electronic devices, such as Internet-enabled digital watches, keyboards, and tablet computers, have interfaces for use as computer peripheral devices.

See also

• Computer hardware
• Controller (computing)
• Display device
• Expansion card
• Punched card input/output
• Punched tape
• Video game accessory

References

1. Laplante, Philip A. (2000). Dictionary of Computer Science, Engineering and Technology. CRC Press. p. 366. ISBN 0-8493-2691-5. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2018.