Input method: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:01, 24 December 2023

Revision as of 17:08, 18 March 2024

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An '''input method''' (or '''input method editor''', commonly abbreviated '''IME''') is an [[operating system]] component or program that enables users to generate characters not natively available on their [[input device]]s by using sequences of characters (or mouse operations) that are available to them. Using an input method is usually necessary for languages that have more [[grapheme]]s than there are keys on the keyboard.

{{Short description|Input of characters not natively available}}

[[File:TypingChineseCharactersWithCangjieGedit383Ubuntu1310Screencast.webm|thumb|Typing [[Standard Chinese|Chinese]] with [[Cangjie input method|Cangjie]]]]

For instance, on the computer, this allows the user of [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] [[Keyboard layout|keyboards]] to input [[Chinese characters|Chinese]], [[Japanese writing system|Japanese]], [[Hangul|Korean]] and [[Indic script|Indic]] characters. On hand-held devices, it enables the user to type on the [[telephone keypad|numeric keypad]] to enter [[Latin alphabet|Latin alphabet characters]] (or any other alphabet characters) or touch a screen display to input text. On some operating systems, an input method is also used to define the behaviour of the [[dead key]]s.

[[File:IME demonstratie - Matsuo Bashou - Furu ikeya kawazu tobikomu mizuno oto.png|thumb|Operation of a typical Japanese [[romaji]]-based IME]]

[[File:Interface of Weasel Input Method.png|thumb|Operation of a Chinese [[pinyin]]-based IME]]

An '''input method''' (or '''input method editor''', commonly abbreviated '''IME''') is an [[operating system]] component or program that enables users to generate characters not natively available on their [[input device]]s by using sequences of characters (or mouse operations) that are available to them. Using an input method is usually necessary for languages that have more [[grapheme]]s than there are keys on the keyboard.

For instance, on the computer, this allows the user of [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] [[Keyboard layout|keyboards]] to input [[Chinese characters|Chinese]], [[Japanese writing system|Japanese]], [[Hangul|Korean]] and [[Indic script|Indic]] characters. On hand-held devices, it enables the user to type on the [[telephone keypad|numeric keypad]] to enter [[Latin alphabet|Latin alphabet characters]] (or any other alphabet characters) or touch a screen display to input text. On some operating systems, an input method is also used to define the behaviour of the [[dead key]]s.

==Implementations==