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A keypad is a set of buttons arranged in a block which usually bear digits and other symbols but not a complete set of alphabetical letters. If it mostly contains numbers then it can also be called a numeric keypad. Keypads are found on many alphanumeric keyboard
Alphanumeric keyboard

Alphanumeric keyboards include typewriters and computer Keyboard . An alphanumeric keyboard is a device with many keys ...
s and on other devices such as calculators, combination locks and telephones which require largely numeric input.

A computer keyboard usually contains a small numeric keypad
Numeric keypad

A numeric keypad, or numpad for short, is the small, palm-sized, seventeen key section of a computer keyboard, usually on the very far right....
 with a calculator-style arrangement of buttons duplicating the numeric and arithmetic keys on the main keyboard to allow efficient entry of numerical data.






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A keypad is a set of buttons arranged in a block which usually bear digits and other symbols but not a complete set of alphabetical letters. If it mostly contains numbers then it can also be called a numeric keypad. Keypads are found on many alphanumeric keyboard
Alphanumeric keyboard

Alphanumeric keyboards include typewriters and computer Keyboard . An alphanumeric keyboard is a device with many keys ...
s and on other devices such as calculators, combination locks and telephones which require largely numeric input.

A computer keyboard usually contains a small numeric keypad
Numeric keypad

A numeric keypad, or numpad for short, is the small, palm-sized, seventeen key section of a computer keyboard, usually on the very far right....
 with a calculator-style arrangement of buttons duplicating the numeric and arithmetic keys on the main keyboard to allow efficient entry of numerical data. This number pad (commonly abbreviated to "numpad") is usually positioned on the right side of the keyboard because most people are right-handed.

Many laptop computers
Laptop

A laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile computing small enough to sit on one's lap. A laptop includes most of the Computer hardware of a typical desktop computer, including a Computer display, a computer keyboard, a pointing device as well as a battery, into a single small and light unit....
 have special function keys which turn part of the alphabetical keyboard into a numerical keypad as there is insufficient space to allow a separate keypad to be built into the laptop's chassis. Separate plug-in keypads can be purchased.
Calculator
By convention, the keys on calculator-style keypads are arranged such that 123 is on the bottom row. In contrast, a telephone keypad
Telephone keypad

A telephone keypad is a keypad that appears on a ?Touch Tone? telephone. It was standardised when the dual-tone multi-frequency system was introduced in the 1960s, and replaced the rotary dial....
 has the 123 keys at the top. It also has buttons labelled * (star
Asterisk

An 'asterisk' is a typographical symbol or glyph. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star. Computer scientists and mathematicians often pronounce it as star ....
) and # (octothorpe, number sign
Number sign

'Number sign' is a name for the symbol '#'; it is the preferred Unicode name for the code point associated with that glyph. The symbol is similar to the musical symbol called Sharp ....
, "pound" or "hash") either side of the zero. Most of the keys also bear letters which have had several auxiliary uses, such as remembering area codes or whole telephone numbers.

The keypad of a calculator
Calculator

A calculator is a device for performing mathematical calculations, distinguished from a computer by having a limited problem solving ability and an interface optimized for interactive calculation rather than programming....
 contains the digits 0 through 9, together with the four arithmetic
Arithmetic

Arithmetic or arithmetics is the oldest and most elementary branch of mathematics, used by almost everyone, for tasks ranging from simple day-to-day counting to advanced science and business calculations....
 operations, the decimal point and other more advanced functions.

Keypads are a part of mobile phones that are replaceable and sit on a sensor board. Some multimedia mobile phones have a small joystick which has a cap to match the keypad.

Keypads are also a feature of some combination lock
Combination lock

A combination lock is a type of lock in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock. The sequence may be entered using a single rotating dial which interacts with several discs or cams, by using a set of several rotating discs with inscribed numerals which directly interact with the locking mechanism, or through an e...
s. This type of lock is often used on doors, such as that found at the main entrance to some offices.

See also

  • Computer keyboard
  • Telephone keypad
    Telephone keypad

    A telephone keypad is a keypad that appears on a ?Touch Tone? telephone. It was standardised when the dual-tone multi-frequency system was introduced in the 1960s, and replaced the rotary dial....
  • Silicone rubber keypad
    Silicone rubber keypad

    Silicone Rubber keypads are used extensively in both consumer and industrial electronic products as a low cost and reliable switching solution....