n tpt dvc s ny pc f cmptr hrdwr tht cnvrts nfrmtn r dt nt hmn-prcptbl frm r, hstrclly, nt physcl mchn-rdbl frm fr s wth thr nn-cmptrzd qpmnt. t cn b txt, grphcs, tctl, d, r vd. xmpls ncld mntrs, prntrs nd snd crds.
n n ndstrl sttng, tpt dvcs ls ncld "prntrs" fr ppr tp nd pnchd crds, spclly whr th tp r crds r sbsqntly sd t cntrl ndstrl qpmnt, sch s n ndstrl lm wth lctrcl rbtcs whch s nt flly cmptrzd