A hardware device used to type information that appears on a computer screen. Much like a typewriter, it has keys, or small, flat buttons, for individual letters, numbers, symbols and functions. A desktop computer will have a separate keyboard that can be connected to the computer case by a cable or can be wireless, whereas a laptop computer will have a keyboard built into the case.

Also known as a number pad, can be found on larger keyboards, usually to the right of the letters. A useful feature if you need to type in lots of numbers.