What are Peripheral Devices | Types and Examples

Last updated on July 24th, 2025 at 01:34 pm

If the question, “What are peripheral devices?” has you stumped, you have come to the right place. Regardless of the type of computer you are using, there is a good chance that you have used a peripheral device before.

Keep reading to learn:

• What peripheral devices are;
• What are computer accessories;
• Types of peripheral devices; and
• Examples of peripheral devices and their functions.

What are peripheral devices?

Peripheral devices are computer accessories or add-ons that extend the functionality of the computer. They allow you to interact with the computer in many different ways. These devices connect to the computer’s system unit via its many ports.

What are computer accessories?

Computer accessories are additional devices associated with computer use. They make it easier to use the computer.

⚠️While peripheral devices are computer accessories, not all computer accessories are peripheral devices. For instance, a mouse pad is a computer accessory but not a peripheral device.

Types of peripheral devices

Peripheral devices come in three main groups:

• Input devices;
• Output devices; and
• Storage devices.

While all of these devices allow us to interact with the computer, removing them will not stop the computer from working. This is why they are called peripheral devices or add-ons.

Some of these devices are more important for the day-to-day use of computers than others. For instance, while a computer monitor falls under this group of computer add-ons, it is necessary for the day-to-day operations of your computer.

A printer, on the other hand, is one of the add-ons that is not necessary for the day-to-day operation of the computer.

Examples of peripheral devices found in our homes or workplaces

Below are some examples of popular add-ons found in our homes or workplaces. Go through the list, and you will realize that their primary purpose is to allow us to interact with the computer.

Input devices

Some peripheral devices that fall under the heading of input devices are:

• Mouse;
• Keyboard;
• Scanners;
• Barcode reader;
• Joystick;
• Touchpad; and
• Microphone.

Output devices

The following peripheral devices are output devices:

• Projectors;
• Monitors;
• Printers; and
• Speakers.

Storage devices

Some storage devices that are also peripheral devices are:

• Flash drives;
• External hard drives;
• Memory cards; and
• Magnetic tape.

Now that you have explored the categories and examples of add-ons, let’s look at their functions.

Functions of peripheral devices

Each group of these computer accessories shares a common function.

The input devices allow you to enter information into the computer. You may do so by typing with your keyboard, scanning barcodes with the barcode reader, or using the mouse to point and click. Some, such as the microphone and scanner, allow you to enter information in other formats, such as audio files or images.

The primary purpose of the output devices, on the other hand, is to allow you to access information stored in the computer. However, some, such as the monitor and projector, also help you view the programs and data on the computer to make it easier for you to interact with it.

You will agree that without the monitor or projector, you will not be able to see and, therefore, will not be able to interact effectively with the computer.

When we speak of storage devices as tools that extend the functionality of the computer, we are not talking about the internal hard drive or solid-state drive. We are talking about the storage devices that need to be connected to the external computer ports.

These storage devices store information for future use and allow us to transfer information from one computer to another.

What is a peripheral device driver?

A peripheral driver is a software program that is used to communicate between the peripheral device and the computer system.