keypad
UK: ˈkiːpæd | US: ˈkiːpæd
n. a small set of buttons or keys arranged in a block, used to input data or commands into a device (e.g., telephone, calculator, or computer).
The word "keypad" is a compound of "key" (from Old English cǣg, meaning "device for locking/unlocking" or "button for input") and "pad" (from Low German pad, meaning "sole of the foot" or later "flat surface"). The term emerged in the mid-20th century with the rise of electronic devices, combining the concept of input keys ("key") arranged on a compact surface ("pad"). This reflects the functional design of early telephone and calculator interfaces.
The ATM's keypad was covered for security against skimming devices.
She typed the password quickly on the numeric keypad.
Modern laptops often integrate a keypad into the main keyboard.
The technician replaced the damaged keypad on the microwave.
Mobile phones once relied on physical keypads before touchscreens became standard.