![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Typing_example.ogv/640px--Typing_example.ogv.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Input device
Device that provides data and signals to a computer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In computing, an input device is a piece of equipment used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system, such as a computer or information appliance. Examples of input devices include keyboards, computer mice, scanners, cameras, joysticks, and microphones.
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2022) |
Input devices can be categorized based on:
- modality of input (e.g., mechanical motion, audio, visual, etc.)
- whether the input is discrete (e.g., pressing of key) or continuous (e.g., a mouse's position, though digitized into a discrete quantity, is fast enough to be considered continuous)
- the number of degrees of freedom involved (e.g., two-dimensional traditional mice, or three-dimensional navigators designed for CAD applications)