a keyboard that is a data input device for computers; arrangement of keys is modelled after the typewriter keyboard
"The old computer terminal used a bulky keypad where the numbers and letters were arranged exactly like a standard typewriter."
A small board with keys primarily used for tactile input into a machine.
"The security guard entered his PIN code using the keypad on the office door."
In plain English: A keypad is an input device with buttons that you press to type numbers, letters, or commands into another gadget.
"She entered her PIN code on the keypad to unlock the safe door."
Usage: While often confused with a keyboard, a keypad typically features fewer keys and lacks the full alphanumeric layout of a standard computer keyboard. It is most commonly found on telephones or security devices rather than in word processing contexts.
The word keypad is a straightforward combination of "key" and "pad." It was formed to describe a flat surface with buttons that function like keys on a keyboard or typewriter.