In computer science and information technology, understanding how computers interact with the outside world is fundamental. When a computer system receives raw information, data, or signals from external sources—such as a user typing on a keyboard, a mouse click, sensor readings, or data transferred from another computer or network device—this initial stage of the data processing cycle is crucial for any computational task.
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The term for information computers receive from users, devices, or other systems is input. In computer science and information technology, input refers to any raw data, signals, or commands that are entered into a computer system from an external source. This crucial stage in the data processing cycle involves the reception of external information that a computer needs to process, store, or transmit.
User input is a common form, originating from human interaction through input devices like a keyboard for typing text, a mouse for clicking and navigation, a touchscreen for gestures, or a microphone for voice commands. Beyond direct user interaction, computer input also encompasses data input from various hardware peripherals and other systems. Examples include sensor readings providing environmental data, images from cameras, sound from microphones, or data streams transferred from other network devices and connected computers. Understanding how a computer system acquires this external data is fundamental to comprehending its functionality and its ability to interact with the outside world. This initial reception of information is essential for any computational task.