# dial box

> computer peripheral

**Wikidata**: [Q5270476](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5270476)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dial_box)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dial-box

## Summary
A dial box is a type of computer peripheral. As a peripheral, it is a hardware device that attaches to a computer to provide facilities for input, output, storage, or communication.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** A dial box is formally classified as a subclass of the computer peripheral hardware category.
- **Function:** As a peripheral, a dial box is a hardware device that attaches to a computer to provide input, output, storage, or communication capabilities.
- **Wikipedia Title:** The entity has an English Wikipedia article titled "Dial box".
- **Wikimedia Commons:** It is associated with the Wikimedia Commons media category "Dial boxes".
- **Sitelink Count:** The entity has a sitelink count of 2, representing its presence on English Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.
- **Freebase ID:** Its unique identifier in the Freebase knowledge graph was /m/07k69y0.
- **Microsoft Academic ID:** Its identifier in the discontinued Microsoft Academic database was 137039744.

## FAQs
### Q: What is a dial box?
A: A dial box is a computer peripheral, which is a hardware device designed to attach to a computer system to extend its capabilities.

### Q: What is the function of a dial box?
A: As a computer peripheral, a dial box provides a computer with input, output, storage, or communication facilities. The specific function depends on the particular model of the device.

### Q: Is a dial box a type of software?
A: No, a dial box is a hardware device, not software. It is classified as a computer peripheral that physically attaches to a computer.

## Why It Matters
The significance of the dial box lies in its classification as a computer peripheral. Peripherals are essential components of modern computing, extending the core capabilities of a computer by adding specialized functions. Devices like the dial box allow users to interact with computers and process information in more diverse and powerful ways than the main computer unit could alone.

While its specific applications are not detailed in the provided data, its existence as a distinct category of hardware highlights the ongoing specialization within the computer hardware ecosystem. The classification of a device as a "dial box" helps organize the vast landscape of computer accessories, allowing for clearer documentation and a better understanding of the different tools available to augment a computer's functionality. Its presence in knowledge bases like Wikidata, though limited, ensures its place within the formal taxonomy of computer hardware.

## Notable For
- **Distinct Hardware Category:** It is recognized as a specific subclass of computer peripheral, separate from other input or output devices.
- **Knowledge Graph Presence:** The entity is formally defined in knowledge graphs like Wikidata and was assigned the unique identifier /m/07k69y0 in Freebase.
- **Wikimedia Classification:** It has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons ("Dial boxes") and an English Wikipedia article, establishing it as a notable topic within that ecosystem.

## Body
### Classification and Definition
A dial box is defined as a computer peripheral. The parent class, `peripheral`, is defined as a hardware device that attaches to a computer to provide input, output, storage, or communication facilities. As a member of this class, a dial box is a physical piece of hardware, not a software program.

### Digital Identification
The dial box entity is tracked and identified across several databases and knowledge graphs.
- **Wikidata:** The entity is described simply as a "computer peripheral".
- **Wikipedia:** It has an English-language Wikipedia article titled "Dial box" and is also present on Wikimedia Commons, resulting in a sitelink count of 2.
- **Freebase:** Its unique identifier in the discontinued Freebase knowledge graph was /m/07k69y0.
- **Microsoft Academic:** Its identifier in the discontinued Microsoft Academic database was 137039744.