Aninput method (orinput method editor, commonly abbreviatedIME) is anoperating system component or program that enables users to generate characters not natively available on theirinput devices by using sequences of characters (or mouse operations) that are available to them. Using an input method is usually necessary for languages that have moregraphemes than there are keys on the keyboard.

For instance, on the computer, this allows the user ofLatinkeyboards to inputChinese,Japanese,Korean andIndic characters. On hand-held devices, it enables the user to type on thenumeric keypad to enterLatin 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 thedead keys.

This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(January 2011)

Although originally coined forCJK (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 theX Window System, the facility to allow the input ofLatin characters withdiacritics is also called an input method.

OnWindows XP or laterWindows, Input method, or IME, are also calledText Input Processor, which are implemented by theText Services FrameworkAPI.

While the terminput method editor was originally used forMicrosoft Windows, its use has now gained acceptance in other operating systems^{[citation needed]}, especially when it is important to distinguish between thecomputer 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 andAndroid;^[1] it is also used onmacOS.^[2]

• The terminput method generally refers to a particular way to use the keyboard to input a particular language, for example theCangjie method, thepinyin method, or the use ofdead keys.
• On the other hand, the terminput method editor on Microsoft products refers to the program that allows an input method to be used (for example MS New Pinyin), or theediting area that allows the user to do the input. It can also refer to a character palette, which allows any Unicode character to be input individually.

• CJK characters – Logographs in shared East Asian written tradition
• Internationalization and localization – Process of making software accessible worldwide
• Unicode input#Techniques – Input characters using their Unicode code points

• Alt codes – Input methodPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Handwriting recognition – Ability of a computer to receive and interpret intelligible handwritten input
• Keyboard layout – Arrangement of keys on a typographic keyboard, in particulardead keys

• Chinese input method
• Japanese language and computers
  • Japanese input method – Methods used to input Japanese characters on a computer
• 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.

• List of input methods for Unix platforms
• ATOK – Proprietary Japanese input method editor
• Microsoft Windows#Multilingual support – Computer operating systems MS IME for Windows
• Tise – Tibetan input method editor for Windows
• Wnn – Japanese text input system

• Multi-tap – Text entry system for mobile phones —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.
• T9 – Mobile phone technology/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).
• iTap – Predictive text system —Similar to first-generation T9, with wordautocomplete.
• LetterWise – Patented predictive text entry systems—Hit the key with the letter you want, if it doesn't come up, hit Next until it does.
• FITALY – Keyboard layout for stylus or touch input (An array, almost square, which minimizes distance travelled from one letter to another.)
• 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, the Palm OS input method, entered using a stylus
• Pouces, an input method using touches and swipes

• Fleksy—Eyes-free touch typing for touchscreen devices, also used by blind / visually impaired people.^[3]
• SwiftKey—context-sensitive word-prediction^[4][5]
• Swype – Virtual keyboard application, an input method that uses swiping gestures instead of tapping to quickly enter text
• Gboard – Virtual keyboard app for Android and iOS, the keyboard that comes bundled with the Android operating system

Wikimedia Commons has media related toInput Methods.

• Microsoft Input Method Editors (IMEs) for Chinese, Japanese and Korean
• BhashaIndia, the Microsoft portal for Indic languages, which has Indic IME for download.
• Google Transliteration IMEs

• Input methods
• Input/output
• User interface techniques
• Natural language and computing

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles to be expanded from January 2011
• All articles to be expanded
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from April 2007
• Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets via Module:Annotated link
• Commons category link is on Wikidata
• Articles containing video clips