Input and Output
How programs take things in and give things back
- say what input and output mean in simple words,
- explain the input -> process -> output model,
- name where input can come from (a person, a file, or a sensor).
1. What is input?
Input is any information that goes into a program. It is the "stuff" the program needs before it can do its job. When you type your name, tap a button, or speak to a smart speaker, you are giving the program input.
Think about a juice machine. Before it can make juice, you have to put in some fruit. The fruit is the input. Without input, the machine has nothing to work with.
- Letters and numbers you type
- A button or screen you tap
- Your voice into a microphone
2. What is output?
Output is any information that comes out of a program. It is the result the program gives back to you after it has done its work. Words on a screen, a sound from a speaker, or a page from a printer are all output.
Back to the juice machine: after it works, juice pours out into your cup. The juice is the output. Output is what you actually get to see, hear, or use.
- Words or pictures shown on a screen
- Music or a beep from a speaker
- A printed page from a printer