A computer accessory is a piece of equipment that does not form part of a computer system, instead it is used to augment or extend the functionality of the system in some way. In a traditional sense this is everything apart from the actual system case or enclosure. So we can see that even the keyboard, monitor and mouse would be deemed an accessory. We also need to be clear on the fact that the term computer accessory and computer peripheral are not interchangeable. A peripheral will always connect to a computer system in some way, an accessory may not necessarily be part of the system - it could be something as abstract as an anti-static cleaning cloth. In a similar fashion, the term computer consumable is not completely interchangeable although there is some overlap.
Computer accessories come in many forms. We are all aware of what a keyboard or a printer is but some accessories are far more specialised such as graphics tablets that consist of a digital pen and pad, which would be used by a graphic designer; or a fingerprint scanner, which is a type of security device designed to allow entry into a computer system only by people which it has been taught the fingerprint of.
In their humblest form an accessory is something as simple as a cleaning spray, a dust removing brush or an anti-glare filter. Pretty much anything that is plugged into, consumed by or is used to maintain a computer system, can be grouped under the heading of computer accessory. Originally the terms computer consumable, computer peripheral and computer accessory were quite segregated, however, it is now more common that everything be grouped together as a computer accessory, with the other two definitions used as sub-types.
Computer accessories come in many forms. We are all aware of what a keyboard or a printer is but some accessories are far more specialised such as graphics tablets that consist of a digital pen and pad, which would be used by a graphic designer; or a fingerprint scanner, which is a type of security device designed to allow entry into a computer system only by people which it has been taught the fingerprint of.
In their humblest form an accessory is something as simple as a cleaning spray, a dust removing brush or an anti-glare filter. Pretty much anything that is plugged into, consumed by or is used to maintain a computer system, can be grouped under the heading of computer accessory. Originally the terms computer consumable, computer peripheral and computer accessory were quite segregated, however, it is now more common that everything be grouped together as a computer accessory, with the other two definitions used as sub-types.