A legacy hardware interface introduced by IBM for connecting peripheral input devices. It uses a 6-pin mini-DIN plug, traditionally color-coded purple for keyboards and green for mice. Unlike USB, it is not hot-swappable and relies on dedicated hardware interrupts, which makes it favored by some gamers and security-conscious IT environments for its low latency and inability to transfer data files.
The bios update locked out the USB ports, so we had to dig up an old PS/2 keyboard to hit F1.
Never plug or unplug a PS/2 device while the computer is running. It lacks hot-plug protection and can blow the microfuse on the motherboard.
Also heard as
- PS/2 port
Related terms
Keyboard
A primary input device consisting of mechanical or membrane switches used to enter alphanumeric data into a computer.
Human interface device
A hardware component that lets a person input data to or receive output from a computer.
Peripheral device
An external piece of hardware connected to a computer to provide input, output, or storage functions.