# computer terminal

> computer input/output device; an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system update programming

**Wikidata**: [Q216640](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q216640)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_terminal)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/computer-terminal

## Summary  
A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that serves as a **computer input/output peripheral**. It lets users enter data into a computer and view the computer’s output, typically via a keyboard and a display (or printer).

## Key Facts  
- **Classification:** Subclass of both *peripheral* and *appliance* (Wikidata).  
- **Core components:** Usually includes a **keyboard** and a **monitor** (has_part → computer monitor).  
- **Aliases:** terminal, console, konsol, terminal informático, terminal de texto, terminal gráfico, etc.  
- **Standard models:**  
  - **VT100** (introduced 1978) – established the ANSI terminal standard.  
  - **VT420** (1990) – later ANSI‑compatible model.  
  - **VT520** (1993) – another ANSI‑standard terminal.  
- **Types of terminals:** dumb terminal, smart (intelligent) terminal, graphical terminal, hard‑copy terminal, X terminal, interactive kiosk, remote job‑entry terminal.  
- **Notable early devices:** Hazeltine 2000 (first general‑purpose smart terminal), ADM‑3A, IBM 3101 (1979), DECwriter series (1970‑1982).  
- **Image reference:** ![DECwriter terminal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Decwriter.jpg)  
- **Identifiers:** lex_id = dataterminal; UMLS CUI = C0009615; EuroVoc = 5929; BabelNet = 01839366n; Freebase = /m/01l0h6.  
- **Sitelink count:** 41 Wikipedia language editions link to the entry.

## FAQs  
### Q: What does a computer terminal do?  
**A:** It provides a physical interface for users to type commands or data (input) and to see the computer’s responses on a screen or printed page (output).  

### Q: How is a terminal different from a modern PC monitor?  
**A:** A terminal combines both input (keyboard) and output (display or printer) in a single dedicated device, whereas a PC monitor only shows output and relies on a separate keyboard and computer for processing.  

### Q: Are terminals still used today?  
**A:** Yes—specialized terminals (e.g., point‑of‑sale kiosks, remote job‑entry terminals, and X‑terminals) remain in use for industrial control, banking, and legacy system access.

## Why It Matters  
Computer terminals were the first practical way for humans to interact directly with computers, replacing slower batch‑processing methods such as punched cards. By providing immediate, bidirectional communication, terminals enabled interactive computing, real‑time data entry, and rapid debugging, which accelerated software development and operational efficiency across industries. Standards set by early models like the VT100 shaped how text and control codes are handled worldwide, influencing later graphical user interfaces and networked terminal emulators. Even in the era of personal computers and cloud services, specialized terminals persist in environments where reliability, low cost, and minimal processing overhead are essential—such as point‑of‑sale systems, industrial control panels, and remote access to mainframes. Their legacy underpins modern concepts of “terminal emulation” found in SSH clients, web‑based consoles, and developer tools.

## Notable For  
- **First smart terminal:** Hazeltine 2000 introduced programmable screen handling and cursor control.  
- **ANSI standardization:** VT100 (1978) defined escape‑sequence conventions still used in terminal emulators.  
- **Hard‑copy output:** Early hardcopy terminals printed results on paper, enabling record‑keeping without a display.  
- **Portability:** Texas Instruments Silent 700 series offered portable, battery‑operated terminals in the 1970s‑80s.  
- **Legacy compatibility:** Modern software still supports legacy terminal protocols (e.g., DEC VT series) for accessing historic mainframe systems.

## Body  

### Definition and Core Function  
- A computer terminal is a **hardware I/O device** that connects to a host computer.  
- It does **not** contain its own processing unit (dumb terminals) or may have limited processing (smart/intelligent terminals).  
- Primary tasks: **data entry** via keyboard and **data display** via monitor or printer.

### Historical Development  
- **1960s‑70s:** Early terminals like IBM 1013 (1961) transmitted card data; DECwriter series (1970‑1982) combined keyboard and dot‑matrix printer.  
- **1974:** DEC introduced the **VT52**, a CRT‑based terminal that set the stage for the VT100.  
- **1978:** **VT100** became the de‑facto standard, defining ANSI escape codes for cursor movement, text attributes, and screen clearing.  
- **1980s‑90s:** Graphical terminals added bitmap graphics (e.g., VT320, VT420, VT520). Portable models such as the **Silent 700** broadened field use.  

### Major Types  

| Type | Typical Features | Example |
|------|------------------|---------|
| **Dumb terminal** | No local processing; relies entirely on host | VT52, early DECwriter |
| **Smart/Intelligent terminal** | Embedded microcontroller for basic editing, screen buffering | Hazeltine 2000, ADM‑3A |
| **Graphical terminal** | Bitmap graphics, higher resolution displays | VT320, VT420 |
| **Hard‑copy terminal** | Prints output on paper instead of a screen | DECwriter series |
| **X terminal** | Runs X Window System, displays remote graphical applications | Various networked X terminals |
| **Interactive kiosk** | Public‑facing, often touchscreen, provides information/commercial services | Modern mall kiosks |
| **Remote job‑entry terminal** | Submits batch jobs to mainframes, often via punched‑card emulation | Remote JET terminals |

### Components  

- **Keyboard:** Usually QWERTY layout, may include function keys for control sequences.  
- **Display:** CRT (historical) or LCD; resolution varies by model (e.g., 80 × 24 characters for VT100).  
- **Printer (optional):** Dot‑matrix or impact printers for hard‑copy terminals.  
- **Interface:** Serial (RS‑232), Ethernet, or proprietary connectors to the host system.  

### Relationship to Other Devices  

- **Peripheral:** As a class, terminals attach to computers to extend I/O capabilities.  
- **Appliance:** Some terminals are single‑purpose devices (e.g., point‑of‑sale terminals) that qualify as computer appliances.  

### Modern Usage  

- **Terminal emulators** (e.g., xterm, PuTTY) replicate the behavior of historic terminals on contemporary PCs.  
- **Kiosks** and **POS systems** continue the terminal concept with touchscreens and network connectivity.  
- **Industrial control** still employs rugged terminals for reliability and low latency.  

## Schema Markup  

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Computer terminal",
  "description": "A computer input/output device; an electronic or electromechanical hardware device used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_terminal",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q... (Wikidata entry for Computer terminal)",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_terminal"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Peripheral"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
3. BabelNet
4. UMLS 2023
5. KBpedia
6. GF WordNet
7. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
8. Wikibase TDKIV