input/output

[′in‚pu̇t ′au̇t‚pu̇t]

(computer science)

Pertaining to all equipment and activity that transfers information into or out of a computer. Abbreviated I/O.

input/output

(programming, operating system)

(I/O) Communication between a computer and its users, its storage devices, other computers (via a network) or the outside world. The devices the computer uses to do this are called "peripherals". What actually counts as I/O depends on what level of detail you are considering, e.g. communication between processors would not be considered I/O when considering a multiprocessor as a single system.

Important aspects of I/O are throughput, latency, and whether the communications is synchronous or asynchronous (using some kind of buffer).

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

I/O

(1) See information operations.

(2) (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the computer's CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer consists of input and output operations; hence the term "I/O." A transfer is either output from the CPU and input to the peripheral or output from the peripheral and input to the CPU. See PC input/output.

PC input/output

Every peripheral device (keyboard, modem, monitor, etc.) requires a control circuit that interfaces with the computer's processor (CPU). These circuits are either built into the chips on the motherboard or are contained on plug-in cards. See chipset.

On the Motherboard
A fully equipped PC motherboard has built-in controller circuits for all the basic peripheral devices. It has sockets for the internal drives (hard disk and CD/DVD) and ports for external devices: keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc. The motherboard typically also provides built-in circuitry for the monitor and network.

Via Plug-In Cards
Additional input/output can be added by plugging in controller cards into the motherboard's PCI or PCI Express slots. For example, a higher-quality graphics card can be plugged in, and the built-in circuit can be disabled. See PCI and BIOS.

Peripheral Drivers

All peripherals require driver software, which enables the OS to command the hardware. When a peripheral device is added that is new to the computer, a controller card is plugged in, and a driver is installed.

Peripheral Drivers

All peripherals require driver software, which enables the OS to command the hardware. When a peripheral device is added that is new to the computer, a controller card is plugged in, and a driver is installed.

Legacy Interfaces

These peripheral interfaces were found on earlier PCs. If a device requires a mouse, keyboard or serial port, adapters are available that convert them to USB. See legacy port.

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

For creation communication input-output device in real time with real control object or programmable logical controller, we developed the modules of digital input-output operations with appropriate industrial standard 0-24V according to the industrial standard [10] and also the models of analog input-output operations with appropriate industrial standard 0-10V [12].

The input-output device providing two-way data transfer between the real object and Matlab / Simulink field are proposed in this work.

Digital-Analog Input/Output Device with the Matlab/Simulink Environment in Real Time Mode

-Use of Canon's extensive selection of input-output devices, including the imageRUNNER ADVANCE Series

Canon Launches Global Managed Document Services Initiative

Hydraulic systems, which ordinarily use positive displacement input-output devices such as pumps, actuators and motors, transfer energy by means of potential energy changes in the fluid transfer medium, that is, by virtue of hydrostatic fluid pressure level differentials, [DELTA]p.

Basic hydraulic circuit design: energy transfer systems

Input-output devices are those that both input information into a computer and also carry that information out of the computer once processed.

How to Buy a Computer

* fabrication yield and reliability resulting in the economic viability of the submicron processes * supply voltage and input-output devices (I/Os) compatible with existing technologies * effective availability of parts to system designers and actual performance compared with the best of prototype parts * historic technological strategic and developmental choices of the various IC suppliers.

Historical review of the high-speed IC issue

When we add up the cost of not having good input-output devices for the many people who can compute but find it cumbersome, we can conclude that the cost of efficient new devices would pay for themselves many times over.

Alphabets & languages