Input/output port

Updated: 11/13/2018 by Computer Hope

An input/output port may refer to any of the following:

1. Alternatively referred to as I/O address, I/O port, and I/O port address, the input/output port is a memory address used by software to communicate with hardware on your computer. In your computer there are 65,536 memory ports that are numbered from 0000h to FFFFh.

The I/O port assignment can be made either manually using DIP switches or automatically using PnP. When configuring a devices I/O port, it's important that it does not share the same port as another device or you a hardware conflict occurs.

How can I view my computers input/output addresses?

To view the computer I/O addresses in Windows, open the Device Manager, click View at the top of the Device Manager window, click Resources by type, and then select Input/Output (IO). You will see output similar to the picture shown below.

I/O addresses shown in Windows Device Manager

Tip

An I/O port should not be confused with a physical port (connection) on the computer or network ports. See our port definition for all computer port related information.

2. An input/output port refers to any computer port that is capable of sending (output) and receiving (input) data.

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