Which of the following is considered an output device?
• printer
• scanner
• memory
• keyboard
The correct answer is printer. To determine this, you need to understand what an output device is and then identify which of the options fits that definition.
An output device is any peripheral device that receives information from a computer system and presents it to the user or another system. It takes electronic data processed by the computer and converts it into a more understandable and usable form.
Let's analyze each option to determine which one qualifies as an output device:
1. Printer: A printer receives electronic data from the computer and produces a paper copy of the information. This makes it an output device.
2. Scanner: A scanner functions in the opposite way. It takes printed documents or images and converts them into electronic data that the computer can recognize and manipulate. This makes a scanner an input device, not an output device.
3. Memory: Memory, also known as RAM (Random Access Memory), is not an output device. It is a storage component within a computer system that holds data and instructions that the computer processes. Memory plays a crucial role in the computer's functioning, but it does not directly produce information for the user.
4. Keyboard: A keyboard is an input device. It allows the user to input data and commands into the computer system.
Based on these explanations, the only option that qualifies as an output device is the printer.