View source for Input method

{{Short description|Method for generating non-native characters on devices}}

[[File:Typing 있습니다 in Dubeolsik keyboard layout.gif|thumb|An animation shows how an input method produces [[Korean language and computers|Korean texts]].]]
An '''input method''' (or '''input method editor''', commonly abbreviated '''IME''') is an [[Operating system|operating system]] component or program that enables users to generate characters not natively available on their [[Input device|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 [[Social:Grapheme|grapheme]]s than there are keys on the keyboard.

For instance, on the computer, this allows the user of [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] keyboards to input [[Social:Chinese characters|Chinese]], Japanese, Korean and Indic characters. On hand-held devices, it enables the user to type on the [[Engineering: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 behavior of the dead keys.

==Implementations==
[[File:Swarachakra keyboard.png|thumb|Screenshot of [[Swarachakra]], an input method producing Indic scripts]]
Although originally coined for CJK (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) computing, the term is now sometimes used generically to refer to a program to support the input of any language. To illustrate, in the [[Software:X Window System|X Window System]], the facility to allow the input of Latin characters with diacritics is also called an input method.

On [[Software:Windows XP|Windows XP]] or later [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]], Input method, or IME, are also called ''Text Input Processor'', which are implemented by the [[Software:Text Services Framework|Text Services Framework]] [[API]].

==Relationship between the methodology and implementation==
While the term ''input method editor'' was originally used for [[Software:Microsoft Windows#Multilingual support|Microsoft Windows]], its use has now gained acceptance in other operating systems , especially when it is important to distinguish between the computer interface and implementation of input methods, or among the input methods themselves, the editing functionality of the program or operating system component providing the input method, and the general support of input methods in an operating system. This term has, for example, gained general acceptance on the Linux operating system and [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=Create an input method {{!}} Views |url=https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/views/touch-and-input/creating-input-method |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Android Developers |language=en}}</ref> it is also used on [[Software:MacOS|macOS]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=InputMethodKit |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/inputmethodkit |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Apple Developer Documentation |language=en-US}}</ref>
*The term ''input method'' generally refers to a particular way to use the keyboard to input a particular language, for example the Cangjie method, the pinyin method, or the use of dead keys.
*On the other hand, the term ''input method editor'' on Microsoft products refers to the program that allows an input method to be used (for example MS New Pinyin), or the ''editing area'' that allows the user to do the input. It can also <!-- apparently --> refer to a character palette, which allows any Unicode character to be input individually. One might also interpret IME to refer to the editor used for creating or modifying the data files upon which an input method relies.

==See also==

* {{annotated link|Internationalization and localization}}

===Related techniques===
* {{annotated link|Software:Handwriting recognition}}

===Input methods versus language===
*[[Korean language and computers]]
*Vietnamese language and computers
*Indic scripts input methods in Wikipedia for languages used in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central Asia and East Asia.

===Specific input methods===
*[[List of input methods for Unix platforms]]
*{{annotated link|Software:ATOK}}
*{{annotated link|Social:Tise}}

===Input methods for handheld devices===
* {{annotated link|Multi-tap}} —Used on many mobile telephones—hit the (combined alphanumeric) key for the letter you want until it comes up, then wait or proceed with a different key.
*{{annotated link|T9 (predictive text)|T9}}/XT9—Type the key for every letter once, then, if needed, type Next until the right word comes up. May also correct misspellings and regional typos (if an adjacent key is pressed incorrectly).
*{{annotated link|Engineering:ITap}} —Similar to first-generation T9, with word [[Engineering:Autocomplete|autocomplete]].
*{{annotated link|Software:LetterWise}}—Hit the key with the letter you want, if it doesn't come up, hit Next until it does.
*[[MessagEase]], an input method optimized for the most common letters, that can enter hundreds of characters with single hand motions
*8pen, an input method using circular swipes in an attempt to mimic hand movements
*[[Graffiti (Palm OS)|Graffiti]], the Palm OS input method, entered using a stylus
*Pouces, an input method using touches and swipes

===Virtual keyboards===
{{main|Engineering:Virtual keyboard}}
*[[Software:Fleksy|Fleksy]]—Eyes-free touch typing for touchscreen devices, also used by blind / visually impaired people.<ref>{{Citation
| last = Meddaugh
| first = Jason
| publication-date = 2013-02-01
| title = 2012: A Technology Year in Review
| publisher = American Foundation for the Blind
| publication-place = US
| url = http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140203
| access-date = 2013-02-25
| quote = Our top story of 2012 involves a formerly little-known app called Fleksy and its rise toward prominence and mainstream acceptance.
| archive-date = 2021-02-11
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210211165921/https://afb.org/aw/14/2/15840
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
*[[Software:SwiftKey|SwiftKey]]—context-sensitive word-prediction<ref>{{Citation
| last = Fiedlerová
| first = Klára
| publication-date = 2012-05-10
| title = Possibilities of Text Input for Handicapped People
| publisher = Czech Technical University in Prague
| publication-place = Prague
| page = 15
| url = https://dip.felk.cvut.cz/browse/pdfcache/fiedlkla_2012dipl.pdf
| access-date = 2012-08-01
| quote = Word prediction is used to speed up the text entry. The prediction system uses the context of the sentence to predict three words that could be used next.
| archive-date = 2017-10-14
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171014075957/https://dip.felk.cvut.cz/browse/pdfcache/fiedlkla_2012dipl.pdf
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 | url        = http://www.swiftkey.com
 | title      = For phones - SwiftKey
 | work       = SwiftKey
 | publisher  = TouchType
 | access-date = 2016-10-21
}}
</ref>
*{{annotated link|Software:Swype}}, an input method that uses swiping gestures instead of tapping to quickly enter text 
*{{annotated link|Software:Gboard}}, the keyboard that comes bundled with the Android operating system

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=30390 Microsoft Input Method Editors (IMEs) for Chinese, Japanese and Korean]
*[http://www.bhashaindia.com/ BhashaIndia], the Microsoft portal for Indic languages, which has Indic IME for download.
*[http://www.google.com/ime/transliteration Google Transliteration IMEs]

{{Input method}}
{{Microsoft APIs}}

[[Category:Input methods| ]]
[[Category:User interface techniques]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

{{Sourceattribution|Input method}}