A keyboard is the primary text-input device for a computer: a grid of keys that, when pressed, send character and command codes to the machine.1
Overview
A keyboard is an input peripheral. Each keypress is detected and translated into a code the operating system interprets as a letter, number, or command. Two switch technologies dominate: cheap, quiet membrane keyboards that press a contact through a rubber dome, and mechanical keyboards with an individual spring-loaded switch under each key that many typists prefer for feel and durability. Layouts vary by language and preference — QWERTY is most common, with AZERTY, Dvorak, and others in use. Keyboards connect over USB or wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Where it fits
A keyboard is half of the basic input pair, alongside the mouse, that every desktop computer needs and that laptops build in. The choice is mostly ergonomic: switch feel, key spacing, and whether you want a numeric pad or a compact board. For long sessions at a GopherTrunk bench, a comfortable keyboard matters more than any spec.
Sources
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Computer keyboard — Wikipedia, on keyboards as text-entry input devices. ↩