# computer keyboard

> device comprising an arrangement of buttons or keys used to input text in computers

**Wikidata**: [Q250](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q250)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_keyboard)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/computer-keyboard

## Summary  
A computer keyboard is a human‑interface device consisting of an arranged set of buttons or keys that lets a user enter text and commands into a computer. It is classified as a **keyboard** and a **text entry interface**, and it forms an essential part of the computer’s input subsystem.

## Key Facts  
- **Device class**: Belongs to the *human interface device* class and the *keyboard* class (data input device).【source】  
- **Primary function**: Provides a physical arrangement of keys for text entry and command input on computers.【source】  
- **Creator**: Designed by industrial designer **Sam Hecht** (MoMA collection work 82176).【source】  
- **Part of**: Integrated component of a **computer** (reference 2020‑06‑23).【source】  
- **Key components**: Includes individual **computer keys** and often a **numeric keypad** in full‑size keyboards.【source】  
- **Variants**: Exists in many forms—mechanical, membrane, ergonomic, wireless, backlit, projection, chorded, ortholinear, gaming, and full‑size keyboards.【source】  
- **Unicode symbols**: Represented by ⌨ (U+2328) and 🖮 (U+1F5AE).【source】  
- **Multimedia resources**: Audio file `Computer_keyboard.ogg`, image `QWERTY_keyboard.jpg` (preferred), and video `Typing_example.ogv`.【source】  
- **Identifiers**: Wikidata ID Q12403, Freebase /m/01m2v, Golden.com Computer_keyboard‑RKJ3YK, and many others.【source】  
- **Museum presence**: Listed in the Museum of Modern Art (work 82176).【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What does a computer keyboard do?  
A: It translates the physical pressing of keys into digital signals that the computer interprets as letters, numbers, symbols, or command instructions, enabling text entry and control of software.  

### Q: How is a computer keyboard different from a keyboard layout?  
A: The **keyboard** is the physical hardware device, while a **keyboard layout** refers to the arrangement of characters on the keys (e.g., QWERTY, Dvorak). They are distinct concepts; the layout can be changed without altering the hardware.  

### Q: Are there keyboards designed specifically for gaming?  
A: Yes. **Gaming keyboards** are a subclass that feature high‑performance mechanical switches, customizable backlighting, macro keys, and often anti‑ghosting technology to meet the demands of fast‑paced video games.  

### Q: Can a keyboard be wireless?  
A: Absolutely. **Wireless keyboards** connect to a computer via Bluetooth or proprietary radio frequencies, eliminating the need for a physical cable while maintaining full functionality.  

### Q: What are chorded keyboards?  
A: **Chorded keyboards** allow users to input characters by pressing multiple keys simultaneously (like a piano chord), enabling one‑hand operation and reducing the number of physical keys required.  

## Why It Matters  
The computer keyboard is one of the most ubiquitous and enduring input devices in modern computing. By providing a reliable, low‑latency method for entering alphanumeric data, it underpins virtually every form of digital communication—from writing documents and coding software to navigating operating systems and issuing commands in command‑line interfaces. Its design has driven entire fields of study within human‑computer interaction, ergonomics, and industrial design, prompting innovations such as ergonomic shapes to reduce repetitive‑strain injuries and mechanical switches that cater to typists’ tactile preferences. Specialized variants—gaming, backlit, projection, and chorded keyboards—extend its utility into niche domains, ensuring that the keyboard remains adaptable to evolving user needs and emerging technologies. Consequently, understanding the keyboard’s structure, classifications, and variants is essential for anyone working with computers, designing user interfaces, or studying the history of computing hardware.  

## Notable For  
- **First‑generation design** by Sam Hecht, now part of MoMA’s collection, highlighting its cultural significance.  
- **Broad classification**: simultaneously a *human interface device*, *text entry interface*, and *electronic device*.  
- **Diverse form factors**: from full‑size keyboards with numeric keypads to ultra‑compact ortholinear and chorded designs.  
- **Specialized variants**: gaming keyboards, ergonomic models, and projection keyboards that project a virtual layout onto surfaces.  
- **Standardized symbols**: recognized Unicode characters ⌨ and 🖮, used across operating systems and documentation.  

## Body  

### Definition  
A computer keyboard is a hardware peripheral that presents a matrix of keys to the user. Pressing a key completes an electrical circuit, sending a scan code to the computer, which translates it into a character or command.  

### Classification  
- **Human interface device** – any computer device enabling user interaction.  
- **Keyboard class** – a subset of data‑input devices.  
- **Text entry interface** – an interface dedicated to entering textual data.  

### Physical Components  
- **Computer keys** – individual mechanical or membrane switches.  
- **Numeric keypad** – an optional block of digit keys, common on full‑size keyboards.  
- **Additional features** – backlighting, programmable macro keys, wrist rests, and detachable cables.  

### Types and Variants  
| Type | Key Characteristics |
|------|----------------------|
| Mechanical | Uses individual mechanical switches for tactile feedback. |
| Membrane | Employs a pressure‑sensitive rubber dome. |
| Ergonomic | Shaped to reduce strain; e.g., Microsoft ergonomic keyboard. |
| Wireless | Connects via Bluetooth or RF; no cable required. |
| Gaming | High‑performance switches, RGB backlighting, anti‑ghosting. |
| Projection | Projects a virtual keyboard onto any surface. |
| Chorded | Inputs characters by pressing multiple keys together. |
| Ortholinear | Keys arranged in a strict grid rather than staggered rows. |

### Historical Notes  
- **Creator**: Sam Hecht (industrial designer) – work cataloged as MoMA 82176.  
- **Museum recognition** underscores the keyboard’s design importance.  

### Technical Standards  
- **Unicode**: ⌨ (U+2328) and 🖮 (U+1F5AE) represent the keyboard symbol in text.  
- **Identifiers**: Wikidata Q12403, Freebase /m/01m2v, Golden.com ID Computer_keyboard‑RKJ3YK, among many others.  

### Connectivity  
- **Wired**: Typically USB or PS/2 connectors.  
- **Wireless**: Bluetooth, proprietary 2.4 GHz dongles.  

### Related Entities  
- **Keyboard layout** – the logical arrangement of characters (e.g., QWERTY).  
- **Keyboard form factor** – physical size and shape (full‑size, tenkeyless, compact).  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Computer keyboard",
  "description": "Device comprising an arrangement of buttons or keys used to input text in computers.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12403",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_keyboard"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Keyboard"
}

## References

1. [Source](http://www.moma.org/collection/works/82176)
2. Integrated Authority File
3. [Source](https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/k/keyboard.htm)
4. [Source](https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2328/index.htm)
5. [Source](https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/1f5ae/index.htm)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. BabelNet
8. Quora
9. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Computer_keyboard-RKJ3YK)
10. National Library of Israel
11. KBpedia