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{{Refimprove|date=September 2007}}

[[File:Ob gif ch.gif|thumb|right|Typing Chinese using [[Chinese input methods for computers|Chinese input methods]], "I am typing using a Chinese input method".]]

[[Image:IME demonstratie - Matsuo Bashou - Furu ikeya kawazu tobikomu mizuno oto.png|thumb|Operation of a typical Japanese [[romaji]] based IME]]

An '''input method''' is an [[operating system]] component or program that allows any data, such as keyboard strokes or mouse movements, to be received as input. In this way users can enter characters and symbols not found on their [[input device]]s. For instance, on the computer, this allows the user of [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] [[Keyboard layout|keyboards]] to input [[Chinese character|Chinese]], [[Japanese writing system|Japanese]], [[Hangul|Korean]] and [[Indic script|Indic]] characters; on many hand-held devices, such as mobile phones, it enables using the [[telephone keypad|numeric keypad]] to enter [[Latin alphabet|Latin alphabet characters]] (or any other alphabet characters) or a screen display to be touched to do so.

==Implementations==

{{expand section|date=January 2011}}

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 [[X Window System]], the facility to allow the input of [[Latin character]]s with [[diacritic]]s is also called an input method.

==Relationship between the methodology and implementation==

While the term ''input method editor'' was originally used by Microsoft Windows, its use has now gained acceptance in other operating systems{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}}, especially when it is important to distinguish between the [[Interface (computer science)|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 GNU/Linux operating system; it is also used on the Mac OS.

*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 key]]s.

*On the other hand, the term ''input method editor'' on Microsoft products refers to the actual program that allows an input method to be used (for example MS New Pinyin). [[Predictive Input Method|PRIME]],<ref>{{Cite document

|url=http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200324/000020032403A0822723.php

|title=Context-aware Predictive Text Input Method Using Dynamic Abbreviation Expansion

|publisher=Transactions of Information Processing Society of Japan

|date=2003

|volume=44

|last1=Komatsu

|first1=Hiroyuki

|last2=Takabayashi

|first2=Satoru

|last3=Masui

|first3=Toshiyuki

|accessdate=2008-04-13

|postscript=<!--None-->

}}</ref> or [[SCIM]] prefer the term of ''Input Method Engine'', ''Input Method platform'' or ''Input Method environment'',<ref>{{cite web

|url=http://www.scim-im.org/about/features

|title=Features & Goals

|publisher=Smart Common Input Method (SCIM) platform project

|accessdate=2008-04-13

}}</ref> or the actual ''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==

*[[Internationalization and localization]]

*[[CJK characters]]

===Related techniques===

*[[Alt codes]]

*[[Keyboard layout]], in particular ''dead keys''

===Input methods versus language===

*[[Chinese input methods for computers]]

*[[Japanese language and computers]] and [[Japanese input methods]]

*[[Korean language and computers]]

*[[Help:Multilingual support (Indic)|Indic scripts input methods]] 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]]

*[[ATOK]]

*[[Tise]]—Tibetan IM for Windows

*[[Singlish Typewriter]]—Sinhala IM

*[[Wnn]]

===Input methods for handheld devices===

*[[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.

*[[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).

*[[iTap]]—Similar to first-generation T9, with word [[autocomplete]].

*[[LetterWise]]—"Hit the key with the letter you want, if it doesn't come up, hit Next until it does."

*Various [[List of FEP software for Symbian S60|FEP Software]] for [[Symbian S60]] 3rd Edition devices.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/downloads/recommended/ime/default.mspx Microsoft Global Input Method Editors (IMEs)]

* [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]

* [http://inputking.com/ InputKing Online Input System], with this online IME, you can type your language anywhere.

{{Input Method}}

{{Microsoft APIs}}

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[[Category:Input methods|*]]

[[Category:Input/output]]

[[Category:User interface techniques]]

[[Category:Natural language and computing]]

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[[fr:Méthode d'entrée]]

[[ko:입력기]]

[[hi:इनपुट विधि]]

[[hu:Szövegbeviteli módszer]]

[[ms:Kaedah input]]

[[ja:インプットメソッド]]

[[pl:Input Method Editor]]

[[pt:Input Method Editor]]

[[ru:IME]]

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[[wuu:输入法]]

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