What type of device are chip readers categorized as?

Chip readers are categorized as input devices because they are used to read data from a chip or a card, such as a credit or debit card. When a card is inserted into a chip reader, it captures and transfers the information stored on the chip to a computer or payment terminal for processing. Input devices are defined by their ability to take in data from the user or a physical medium and send it to a computer system for further action.

In the context of chip readers, they serve the function of gathering information, making them a quintessential example of input devices. Other device categories, such as output devices, serve the purpose of conveying information from the computer to the user, while storage devices are designed to save data. Processing devices refer to the components within a system that manipulate and control data, but chip readers specifically function at the input stage of data handling.