What type of device is a mouse primarily categorized as?

A mouse is primarily categorized as an input device because its main function is to allow users to interact with a computer by sending input commands. It translates the physical movement of the user's hand into movement on the screen, enabling actions like selecting, dragging, and executing commands. This interaction is crucial for user interfaces, making the mouse an essential tool for directing a cursor on a display, thereby providing a way to input data or commands into a computer system.

In contrast, output devices are designed to convey information from a computer to the user, such as monitors and printers, while storage devices are used to save data for long-term retention, like hard drives and USB flash drives. Memory devices, such as RAM, temporarily store data actively used by the computer. Each of these categories serves a distinct purpose, with input devices, like the mouse, focusing on enabling users to provide input to the system.