Computer keyboard
Primary computer input device since the 1970s.
A computer keyboard is a built-in or peripheral input device modeled after the typewriter keyboard, using an arrangement of buttons or keys to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. It has been the main input method for computers since the 1970s, supplemented by the computer mouse since the 1980s and the touchscreen since the 2000s. Keyboards remain central to human-computer interaction, though mobile devices often use virtual keyboards.
- type
- Input device
- ancestor
- Typewriter
- key predecessors
- Teleprinter and keypunch
- common layouts
- ISO, ANSI, JIS
- key spacing (ANSI)
- 0.75 inches (19 mm) centers
- key travel (ANSI)
- at least 0.15 inches (3.8 mm)
Lore & Background
Laptop keyboards often have shorter travel distance and reduced key sets. Flexible keyboards, made from silicone, are water- and dust-proof and used in hospitals. Handheld ergonomic keyboards are designed to be held like a game controller, and thumb keyboards are used in devices such as PDAs and smartphones.
Reader's Guide
The computer keyboard is a foundational input device that replaced earlier punched cards and paper tape technology. Its design inherits from teleprinters and keypunches, which were developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Keyboards have been the main method for text entry into computers since the 1970s, and despite the introduction of the mouse and touchscreen, they remain essential for human-computer interaction. The interpretation of key presses is left to software, with the computer receiving only scan codes indicating which physical keys were pressed or released. Keyboards come in various types—desktop full-size, laptop, flexible, handheld, and thumb-sized—each suited to different needs. Standards like ANSI, ISO, and JIS define mechanical layouts and key spacing. The keyboard's role in data entry, communication, and system command execution has made it a lasting interface, even as mobile devices shift to virtual keyboards.
Did You Know?
- Herman Hollerith developed the first keypunch devices, which evolved to include keys for text and number entry by the 1930s.
- The ENIAC computer used a keypunch device for both input and paper-based output.
- ANSI standard alphanumeric keyboards have keys on three-quarter inch centers (0.75 inches) and key travel of at least 0.15 inches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a computer keyboard?
It is an input device, either built into the machine or connected as a peripheral, that lets you enter text and commands by pressing individual keys. Each key functions as a small mechanical lever or electronic switch, and the overall design is modeled on the typewriter.
Where did the computer keyboard's design come from?
The layout is directly inherited from the typewriter keyboard, although earlier data-entry machines such as the teleprinter and the keypunch also shaped its development.
What keyboard layouts are used around the world?
The three most common standards are ISO, ANSI, and JIS, each adjusting key shapes and positions to match regional typing conventions.
Is the keyboard still the main way people interact with computers?
Yes; it has served as the primary input method since the 1970s. The mouse (1980s) and touchscreen (2000s) added supplementary options, and mobile devices now often rely on virtual on-screen keyboards instead of physical ones.
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