What is Computer terminal?
[[File:VT420 with German keyboard.jpg|thumb|VT420 computer terminal]] A '''computer terminal''' or '''data terminal''' is a device made up of a [[computer monitor|display unit]] and a [[Keyboard (computer)|keyboard]]. It is used to access a [[Computer|computer system]] in order to run programs and manage computer files. Terminals output only [[Character (computing)|character]]s, not graphics. They were developed from [[teletypewriter]]s. At that time, computers were still very bulky and did ''not'' yet have a computer monitor or keyboard on its own. Some technical terms are: * '''terminal identity''' = a unique code to provide identification and authorization of a user. * '''terminal interface''' = a text-based [[user interface]] to access computers. * '''terminal emulator''' = a [[software]] like [[PuTTY]] that [[emulator|emulates]] a physical terminal. They are still used today to access computers that do ''not'' have a [[graphical user interface]]. Such as, for example, all [[supercomputer]]s and most [[Cloud computing|cloud]] computers. * '''terminal adapter''' = a [[modem]] that connects a computer to a [[telephone]] line. They are not used anymore. [[Category:Computer hardware]]