Peripheral management - GCSE Computer Science Definition

Peripheral management refers to how a computer controls and communicates with its peripheral devices, like printers, keyboards, and mice. These devices are not part of the computer's main system unit but are essential for performing input, output, and storage tasks. The computer uses special programs called drivers to manage these devices, ensuring they work smoothly with the main system. Efficient peripheral management ensures that devices can send and receive data correctly and perform tasks without errors, helping the computer run effectively overall. In GCSE Computer Science, understanding peripheral management is important because it shows how hardware and software work together to enable everyday computer operations.