What type of device is a scanner classified as?

A scanner is classified as an input device because its primary function is to capture images or text from physical documents and convert them into digital data that can be processed by a computer. By scanning a document, the scanner captures the visual information and transmits it to the computer for storage, editing, or sharing. Input devices are essential for providing data to a computer system, and scanners play a crucial role in digitizing physical documents, which enhances the user's ability to manage and manipulate information in a digital format. This is what distinguishes an input device, like a scanner, from output devices, which are meant to convey information from the computer to the user, storage devices, which hold data, and networking devices that facilitate communication between computers.