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'''Programmable calculators''' are [[calculator]]s that can automatically carry out a sequence of operations under control of a stored [[computer programming|program]]. Most are [[Turing complete]], and, as such, are theoretically general-purpose computers. However, their user interfaces and programming environments are specifically tailored to make performing small-scale numerical computations convenient, rather than general-purpose use.
The first programmable calculators such as the [[IBM CPC]] used [[punched cards]] or other media for program storage. Hand-held electronic calculators store programs on magnetic strips, removable read-only memory cartridges, flash memory, or in battery-backed read/write memory.
Since the early 1990s, most of these flexible handheld units belong to the class of [[graphing calculator]]s. Before the mass-manufacture of inexpensive [[dot-matrix]] [[LCD]]s, however, programmable calculators usually featured a one-line numeric or [[alphanumeric]] display. The Big Four manufacturers of programmable calculators are [[Casio]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]], and [[Texas Instruments]]. All of the above have also made [[pocket computer]]s in the past, especially Casio and Sharp.
Many calculators of this type are monochrome LCD, some are four-color (red or orange, green, blue, and black), or, in the case of some machines at the top of the line as of January 2022 color similar to monitors displaying 16 or 32-bit graphics. As they are used for graphing functions, the screens of these machines are [[pixel-addressable]]. Some have a touch screen, buzzers or other sound producers, internal clocks, modems or other connectivity devices including IrDA transceivers, several types of ports for peripherals like printers, and ports for memory cards of a number of types.
The wide availability and low cost of [[personal computer]]s including [[laptop computer]]s, [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer|tablets]] gradually made programmable calculators obsolete for most applications. Many mathematical software packages can be automated and customized through [[scripting languages]] and [[plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]] in a manner similar to handheld programmable calculators. However, programmable calculators remain popular in [[secondary education| secondary]] and [[tertiary education]]. Specific calculator models are often required for use in many mathematics courses. Their continued use in education is usually justified by the strictly controllable functionality available. For instance, the calculators do not typically have direct Internet access and so cannot be used for illegal assistance in exams. The remaining programmable calculator manufacturers devote much effort to encourage the continued use of these calculators in high school mathematics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kosoff |first1=Maya |title=Big Calculator: How Texas Instruments Monopolized Math Class |url=https://gen.medium.com/big-calculator-how-texas-instruments-monopolized-math-class-67ee165045dc |access-date=30 March 2022 |work=GEN |publisher=Medium |date=25 November 2019}}</ref>
==Earlier devices==
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