A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system. A computer terminal is an instance of a human-machine interface (HMI).
The function of a terminal is confined to display and input of data; a device with significant local programmable data processing capability may be called a "smart terminal" or thin client. A personal computer can run software that emulates the function of a terminal, sometimes allowing concurrent use of local programs and access to a distant host system.
