Input and output devices are hardware components that allow a user or another system to interface with a computer. Input devices are used to send signals to the computer for performing tasks, while output devices reproduce or display the results of that processing. Input devices only allow for input of data to a computer, while output devices only receive the output of data from another device. However, some devices can accept input and display output, and they are called I/O devices (input/output devices) .
Examples of input devices include:
- Keyboard devices
- Pointing devices (e.g. mouse, trackpad)
- Composite devices (e.g. touch screen)
- Game controllers
- Visual devices (e.g. camera, scanner)
- Audio input devices (e.g. microphone)
Examples of output devices include:
- Monitor
- Printer
- Speakers
- Headphones
Input/output devices have the ability to accept data from users or another device (input), as well as forward data to another device (output) . Some examples of input/output devices include touch screen displays and multifunction printers.
