A Peripheral Device is a computer device or part which is connected to the computer with different connection types. A peripheral device is not a core device for a computer which means a computer can work without a peripheral device connected to it. Peripheral devices generally provide extra function and data input and output functionality to the computer systems.
What Is Not Peripheral Device?
Before starting to explain and list peripheral devices providing the non-peripheral devices will be more useful because there are some computer parts that are core and critical for a computer system which is not peripheral device and all other devices are categorized as peripheral devices.
CPU is not a peripheral device because a computer system can not work without a CPU.
Mainboard is not a peripheral device because the other core computer parts are connected and communicate over a mainboard.
Memory is not a peripheral device because the data processed is stored inside memory and without a memory CPU and computer can not work.
Storage or Hard Disk Drive is not a peripheral device because the processes data is stored inside the storage or hard disk drive for long term usage.
Peripheral Device Types (Internal and External)
Peripheral devices can be in different types according to their connection type to the system and data transmission direction. According to connection type peripheral devices a categorized as;
Internal Peripheral Devices are generally located inside the computer system case and named internet because of their location. Here are some internal peripheral devices.
- CD-ROM
- Floppy Disk
- Graphic Card / Video Card
- Network Interface Card
- TV Card
- Sound Card
- Monitor(Only For Laptops)
External Peripheral Devices are located outside of the computer system case or chassis and connected different types of connections and cables.
- External CD-ROM
- External Floppy Disk
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Paint Device
- Printer
- Scanner
- External Hard Disk / USB Disk
- Monitor (Except Laptops)
Peripheral Device Types (Input, Output, and Composite)
Peripheral devices can be also categorized according to their data communication direction. They are called Input , Output and Composite .
Input Peripheral Device is a device was used to input data into the computer system. Their main purpose is to get different types of input, digitalize it and forward it to the mainboard for processing.
- Keyboard
- Computer Mouse
- Graphic Tablet
- Touchscreen
- Scanner
- Barcode Reader
- Microphone
- Webcam
- Joystick
- SD / Micros SD Card Reader
- Digital Camera
Output Peripheral Devices mainly used to show and output information in different formats like Image, Video, Sound to the system user.
- Monitor / Computer Display
- Printer
- Projector
- Speaker
Composite Peripheral Devices can both input and output data. These types of devices generally used to transmit data and act as intermediate hop.
- Floppy Disk Drive
- CD-ROM Drive / DVD Drive
- Flash Drive
- Network Interface Card
- Modem
Peripheral Device Connection Types
Peripheral devices are connected to the core computer systems via motherboard via different connection protocols and types. Every connection type has a different cable, plug, and protocol type. Below we will list some popular peripheral connection types.
USB is the most popular and easy connection type and protocol for peripheral devices. In today most of the peripheral devices connect with a USB connection because of its plug and play and multiple port availability.
PCI is another popular connection type for peripheral devices. PCI generally used by the internal peripheral devices which require high data transmission bandwidth with reliability like Graphics Cards, Network Interface Cards, Ethernet Cards.
SATA is generally used by internet peripheral devices like storage devices, hard disk devices.
HDMI is a popular next-generation connection where monitors, displays, and projections are connections.
VGA is an old-style graphic display connection type which is the previous version of HDMI and used by monitors, displays, and projections.