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In [[computer hardware]], a '''controller''' may refer to:
{{Refimprove|date=October 2012}}
In [[computing]] and especially in [[computer hardware]], '''controller''' is a [[Integrated circuit|chip]], an [[expansion card]], or a stand-alone device that [[interface (computing)|interface]]s with a [[peripheral]] device. This may be a link between two parts of a computer (for example a [[memory controller]] that [[memory management|manages access to memory]] for the computer) or a controller on an external device that manages the operation of (and connection with) that device.
* [[ FlashMemory controller]] , ora SSDunit controller,that manages flashaccess to memory .▼The term is sometimes used in the opposite sense to refer to a device by which the user controls the operation of the computer, as in ''[[game controller]]''. ▼* [[ MIDICharge controller]] ▼
▲The* term[[Game is sometimes used in the opposite sense to refer tocontroller]], a device by which the user controls the operation of the computer , as in ''[[game controller]]''.
In desktop computers the controller may be a plug in board, a single integrated circuit on the [[motherboard]], or an external device. In [[mainframe computer|mainframes]] the controller is usually either a separate device attached to an [[Channel I/O|channel]] or integrated into the peripheral.
* [[ simple:DeviceHost controller]] ▼
* [[ Network interfaceSound controller]] (NIC)▼==Controller chips==
* [[Network controller]]
[[File:Ic-photo-Intel--C8251.JPG|thumb|Intel C8251 Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (USART) chip]]
* [[Graphics controller]] or [[video display controller ]]▼* SCSI [[host bus adapter]]
* [[Parallel port]] controller
* [[Microcontroller]] unit (MCU)
* [[Keyboard controller (computing)|Keyboard controller]]
* [[Programmable Interrupt Controller]]
* [[Northbridge (computing)]] – Intel memory controller chip.
* [[Southbridge (computing)]] – Intel [[I/O]] controller chip.
* [[Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter]] (UART) communications controller chip.
* [[Peripheral DMA controller]]
* [[Memory controller]], logic which manages the flow of data in a computer system.
* [[Peripheral DMADisk controller]].
* [[Floppy disk controller]]
* [[Disk array controller]], also known as [[a RAID controller ]], a type of storage controller ▼==Controller boards==
* [[Flash controller]], or SSD controller, which manages flash memory
[[Image:KL Genoa EGA.jpg|thumb|Video display controller card]]
* [[Terminal Access Controller]] <!-- is here a disambiguation page? -->▼▲* [[Graphics controller]] or video display controller
* [[IBM 2821 Control Unit]], used to attach card readers, punches and line printers to IBM System/360 and IBM System/370 computers ▼* [[SCSI]] controller, more properly called ''SCSI [[host bus adapter]]''
* [[IBM 270x]] and [[IBM 37xx]] , telecommunicationsused controlfor unitstelecommunications▼▲* [[Network interface controller]] (NIC)
* [[ IBM_3271IBM 3271#Controllers|IBM 3271, 3272, 3271, and 3174]] , used to attach 3270terminals control(display unitsdevices)▼
* [[MIDI controller]]
==External controllers==
[[File:HardDiskAnatomy.jpg|thumb|A disassembled and labeled 1997 HDD showing integrated controller. All major components were placed on a mirror, which created the symmetrical reflections]]
* [[Disk controller]] and [[Floppy disk controller]] often integrated into modern [[Disk storage|disk drive]]s.<!-- important practical info, to distinguish disk controller from IDE controller or from HBA -->
▲* [[Disk array controller]], also known as [[RAID controller]], a type of storage controller
▲* [[Flash controller]] or SSD controller, manages flash memory.
▲* [[Terminal Access Controller]] <!-- is here a disambiguation page? -->
==Mainframe controllers==
[[File:BRL64-IBM 1311 DiskDrives.jpg|thumb|IBM 1311 Disk Drives - Model 2 (Slave) & Model 3 (Master). The Model 3 contains an integrated controller.]]
In IBM terminology a ''controller'' is "a device that decodes the [channel] command and effects the operation of the device."<ref>{{cite book|last=IBM Corporation|title=Introduction to IBM Data Processing Systems|year=1978|url=http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/ibm/generalInfo/GC20-1684-4_IBMdpIntroJul78.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|p.5-1}}
In most mainframe systems a device-independent [[Channel I/O|''channel'']] usually attaches to the CPU and a controller or control unit implements device-dependent logic for attaching specific devices to the channel. Some devices have integrated control units.
▲*[[IBM 2821 Control Unit]], used to attach card readers, punches and line printers to IBM System/360 and IBM System/370 computers
▲*[[IBM 270x]] and [[IBM 37xx]] telecommunications control units
▲* [[IBM_3271#Controllers|IBM 3271, 3272, 3271, and 3174]] 3270 control units
==See also==
* [[Adapter (computing)]]
* [[Programmable logic controller]]
* [[Computer bus]]
* [[Super I/O]]
* [[Control unit (disambiguation)]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/c/controller.html Controller description] at Webopedia, a computer term dictionary.
[[Category:Computer peripherals]]
[[Category:Computing articles needing expert attention]]
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[[de:Controller (Hardware)]]
[[es:Controladora de periférico]]
[[fr:Contrôleur (informatique)]]
[[it:Controller (informatica)]]
[[lt:Kontroleris]]
[[ja:コントローラ]]
[[pl:Kontroler (informatyka)]]
[[pt:Controlador (informática)]]
▲[[simple:Device controller]]
[[sk:Radič (počítač)]]
[[fi:Laiteohjain]]
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