Input and Output Devices
Input devices send data into a computer, while output devices present results to the user.
▶ Interact
Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
📘 Learn
Input devices send data into a computer, while output devices present results to the user.
- Keyboard, mouse and microphone are inputs
- Monitor, speaker and printer are outputs
- Touch screens do both
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Input and Output Devices?
Within Computer Science, which covers algorithms, programming, data, networks, hardware and safe, responsible use of technology, this topic explains Input and Output Devices. Computing topics explain how software, hardware and data work, with diagrams and models that show each step in order.
Check that you can explain Input and Output Devices in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Input and Output Devices helps you design, test and explain programs, websites and systems, from small projects to exam questions.
Input and Output Devices in detail
Input devices send data into a computer: keyboards, mice, touchscreens, microphones, scanners, webcams and sensors. Output devices present results: monitors, printers, speakers and actuators such as motors.
Some devices do both, such as touchscreens and headsets. The right device depends on the task, so a barcode scanner suits a shop, while a graphics tablet suits an artist. Accessibility needs also matter, as voice input, Braille displays and eye-tracking help users who cannot use standard devices. Each device converts between the real world and the digital data a computer understands.
How the interactive helps you understand Input and Output Devices
Click a card to flip it and reveal the answer, then move on to the next one.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Input and Output Devices.
Real-life uses and examples
- Trace through a process that uses Input and Output Devices to check what it does step by step.
- Recognise Input and Output Devices in an app or device you use every day.
- Apply Input and Output Devices when you design a small program, website or spreadsheet.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Testing only the normal case and forgetting the edge cases.
- Using the term without being able to say what the computer actually does.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Input and Output Devices
What is Input and Output Devices?
Input devices send data into a computer, while output devices present results to the user.
What are the most important points about Input and Output Devices?
The main points are: Keyboard, mouse and microphone are inputs; Monitor, speaker and printer are outputs; Touch screens do both.
Why is Input and Output Devices useful?
Understanding Input and Output Devices helps you design, test and explain programs, websites and systems, from small projects to exam questions.
How can I practise Input and Output Devices?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Input and Output Devices?
Related topics in Computer Science include Memory: RAM and ROM, Application and System Software, Hexadecimal.