For attaching input devices like laptops and mice, outdated PCs with PS/2 ports are used. The version was first made available in 1987 along with IBM's Personal System/2 computer (abbreviated "PS/2"). The PS/2 connector in all IBM compatible PCs eventually became the de facto method for connecting keyboards and controllers.

The PS/2 connector is approximately spherical in form and has six connections. The keyboard and mouse connectors are usually color-coded because each PS/2 interface is made to take a particular input. For instance, the mouse port is typically green while the keypad port is frequently purple on the computer's rear. The mouse cable attachment is green, and the socket at the end of the keyboard chord is purple. All users will find it simple to understand where to connect the cords to the computer as a result. The idea is comparable to the red, white, and yellow color-coded composite audio/video ports found on the rear of televisions.

Although the PS/2 interface had a successful run for nearly 20 years, most keyboards and mice today use USB connections. In contrast to PS/2 connections, USB devices can be inserted into any available USB port, including a USB adapter, and the computer will recognize the device. Additionally, USB is "hot swappable," which allows links to be deleted while a computer is still operating. While the computer is running, removing a PS/2 device could possibly harm the hardware. Therefore, it is recommended to switch off the computer before putting in or removing a keypad or mouse if you are using a PS/2 device.