input device
compound.a piece of equipment that lets you send information or instructions to a computer.
compound.a hardware component used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system. Countable; typically used in technical or educational contexts regarding computing.
“A mouse is a common input device.”
“The technician checked every input device, including the keyboard and the scanner, to find the connection error.”
“Modern gaming consoles rely on a variety of input devices, ranging from traditional handheld controllers to sophisticated motion-tracking cameras.”
usually refers to physical hardware rather than software interfaces.
contrast this with 'output device' (like a monitor or printer) to help students understand the direction of data flow.