Peripheral Equipment

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What Does Peripheral Equipment Mean?

Peripheral equipment refers to non-essential devices or equipment connected to a host computer, usually externally, in order to extend its capabilities. Peripheral equipment may not be essential to the computer’s operation, but it’s often needed in order for a user to interact with the computer.

Techopedia Explains Peripheral Equipment

The best examples of peripheral devices are input and output devices. Input devices are those that take external stimuli and send it to the computer for processing, such as keyboards, mice and microphones. Output devices take processed information and send it outside of the computer for human communication or inter-computer communication. This includes monitors, network adapters and printers. Internal peripheral devices, often called integrated peripherals, might include a CD-ROM drive or modem.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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