Fundamentals of Computer > Output Devices > Common Functions and Categories of Output Device

Definition of an Output Device

An output device is any device used to send information from a computer to another device or user.

• An output device receives results from the processor usually for display, projection, or physical reproduction.
• It provides a means to interact users with the computer.
• The most commonly used output device on a computer is monitor. However, there are other output devices also.
• Keep in mind that devices such as a CD, DVD, Floppy diskette, Pen Drive etc. may be capable of receiving information from the computer, but they are not output devices. These are considered as storage devices.

Example of Some Output Devices: monitor, printer, speaker, plotter, multimedia projector etc.

Functions of an Output Device

Following functions are performed by an output device:

• An output device accepts the results produced by the computer (which are in coded form, and hence, cannot be easily understood by human).
• It converts these coded results to human acceptable form.
• Finally it supplies the converted results to the user.

 

Categories of Output Devices

Form of output can be of two types:

1. Hard Copy: Printed copy of output is called hardcopy.

1. Soft Copy: It is usually a screen-displayed output, which is transient and is lost when the computer is turned off. Audio or voice-form data produced by speaker is also referred to as the soft-copy output. This kind of output is not tangible, i.e. it cannot be touched.

Various categories of output devices are:

Category	Example(s)
Hard-copy	Printer, Plotter etc.
Soft-copy	Monitor, Speaker, Multimedia Projector etc.

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Input / Output Devices (I/O Devices)

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