Input and Output Devices List with their Functions

Input and Output Devices

This will be a basic query for every computer beginner and they must want to know what input and output devices are used in terms of computers?

The computer is a vast technology. You may have used many computers and related devices. I am sure many of us might be unknown about their features.

Let’s say if you are a computer user then you must be using a mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, joysticks, webcam, speaker, touchpad, etc.

Do you really know what exactly those devices are called?

What kind of devices are they?

What terminology do they come under?

Hereby, providing you with an input and output device list related to computers and their brief description:

Certainly, you must have seen or heard about a mouse, keyboard, touchpad, monitor, printers, speaker, scanners, etc. However, a few of them come under Input devices and some of them come under output devices.

Check out the list of separate input output devices:

List of Input Output Devices of a Computer

Input Devices: Computer related input devices including Keyboard, Mouse, Touchpad, TrackPoint, Scanner, Microphone, Digital Cameras, Barcode reader, Joystick, Webcam, etc.

Output Devices: On the other hand, a few examples of output devices are Printers, Projectors, Plotters, Monitors, Speakers, Head Phones, etc.

Brief Explanation of Input Devices

Keyboard: A computer or laptop keyboard is kind of hardware device that you can use to type data in a computer system. It is a plug and play device.

A computer keyboard includes a set of alphabets (A-Z), numbers (0-9), symbols and function keys. The computer keyboard type should be PS/2 (5-Pin DIN or 6-Pin DIN), USB (Universal Serial Bus), Wireless.

Nowadays USB and Wireless keyboards are common in use. Earlier, PS/2 was the most used keyboard.

Mouse: A computer mouse is an input and a hardware, pointing device that you can connect to your computer system. You can move Cursor on your screen.

It’s a hand held device that you can move with your hand and do clicks (right or left) on your screen to send commands to your computer screen area.

Earlier PS/2 mouse was in existence but now a days USB and Wireless Mouse have taken place.

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Touchpad: A touchpad or trackpad is a kind of input device that has a limited area wherein you can Point, scroll, click and swipe.

A touchpad is most commonly found on computer laptops (computer brand doesn’t matter). Touchpad allows you to use all the features as you do with a computer mouse.

TrackPoint: Most commonly TrackPoint found on IBM ThinkPad Notebook computers, and originally introduced by IBM in 1992.

TrackPoint is a cursor control device that’s built between a laptop keyboard and also known as a pointing stick.

Nowadays the touchpad method is in existence.

Scanner: A scanner is an electronic and input device that allows user to scan any document, images, etc. and convert them to digital formats that you can see on your computer screen.

It’s a kind of hardware device that you can connect to your desktop computer/laptop by using a USB connection.

Most are used in offices to create image files of physical documents.

Microphone: Also, known as its common name Mic. Basically Microphone converts your voice/sound into electrical signals and you will get an output on connected speakers.

It can be used to record voice or to communicate with others by using supported applications.

Digital Cameras: A Digital Camera allows users to take pictures using digital technology in cameras. You can click and take photographs/pictures of anything that you have focused on.

You can control it by its certain features.

Barcode Reader: A Barcode Reader is an input device and also known as Barcode Scanner is a hand held device. It is an electronic device that can read barcodes printed on any product, etc.

It is generally used to track products and prices in a computer software system.

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Joystick: Joystick is a kind of control stick that is most used for computer gaming’s that allows users to control characters or machines.

Webcam: Webcam is a short form of Web Camera is an input device. It should be connected to the computer directly or indirectly.

It allows users to stream live video calls, take pictures, etc.

Brief Explanation of Output Devices

Printers: A printer is an output device that can print any document, web page, photographs, etc by command send by your computer desktop or laptop.

There are several brands and types of printers available for example: Laserjet, Officejet, Inkjet, Line printers.

Nowadays most of the printers include the features of scanner and copier too.

Projector: A projector is a hardware device that you can connect to computer desktop/laptop using HDMI or VGA cable (depending on compatibility) to project your computer display on a large screen.

If you are using a projector, you also require a projection screen where you can project the computer display.

list of input output devices — Projector Screen

Plotters: A Plotter is a big size printer that allow users to get a big size print which cannot be done with basic printers.

Most of the plotters have the features of LTP, LAN and USB printing ports that connect to your computer.

Generally, plotters are used to take prints of line-art applications, big maps, architecture designs, drawings, etc.

Monitor: In computing, a monitor screen is a computer display. The monitor could be a CRT, LED or LCD.

Whatever you do on your computer, the monitor is the hardware device that shows you the output. So, without a monitor you can’t work in your computer.

Speakers: The computer speaker is an output device because you are getting sound from it whenever you play any online or offline music, video or anything that has sound in it.

Basically, a speaker is a hardware device that you can connect to your computer to generate sound.