computer science

Input (computer science)

Input (computer science) is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Input (computer science) rather than just read about it. In short: In computer science, the general meaning of input is to provide or give something to the computer, in other words, when a computer or device is receiving a command or signal from outer sources, the event is referred to as input to the device. Some computer devices can also be categorized as input devices, because devices are used to send instructions to the computer, some common examples of computer input devices ar…

Key takeaways

Input (computer science) belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Input (computer science) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Input (computer science) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In computer science, the general meaning of input is to provide or give something to the computer, in other words, when a computer or device is receiving a command or signal from outer sources, the event is referred to as input to the device. Some computer devices can also be categorized as input devices, because devices are used to send instructions to the computer, some common examples of computer input devices are:

Mouse Keyboard Touchscreen Microphone Webcam Softcam Touchpad Trackpad Image scanner Trackball Many internal components of computer are input components to other components, like the power-on button of a computer is an input component for the processor or the power supply, because it takes user input and sends it to other components for further processing. In many computer languages the keyword "input" is used as a special keyword or function, such as in Visual Basic or Python. The command "input" is used to give the machine the data it has to process.

See also Input method Input device Input/output

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Input (computer science)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Input (computer science) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Input (computer science) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Input (computer science) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Input (computer science)

In research: Input (computer science) appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Input (computer science) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Input (computer science) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computing stubs, Input/output, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Input (computer science) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Input (computer science) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Input (computer science) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Input (computer science) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Input (computer science) in simple terms?

Why does Input (computer science) matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Input (computer science)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Input (computer science).