{{DISPLAYTITLE:_DEVICE$}}
The '''_DEVICE$''' function returns a [[STRING]] value holding the controller type, name and input types of the input devices on a computer.


{{PageSyntax}}
::: device$ = _DEVICE$(''device_number'')


* '''[[_DEVICES]] function MUST be read first to get the number of devices and to enable [[_DEVICE$]] and [[_DEVICEINPUT]].'''
* The ''device_number'' parameter indicates the number of the controller device to be read.
* Returns the [[STRING]] control type, name of the device and input types each can use included in brackets:
::* Control type:
::: [KEYBOARD] always listed as first device when keyboard(s) available. Only one keyboard will show.
::: [MOUSE]] always listed as second device when keyboard(s) and mouse(mice) are available. Only one mouse will show.
::: [CONTROLLER] subsequent devices are listed as controllers which include joysticks and game pads.
::* When [CONTROLLER] is returned it may also give the [[STRING]] [[NAME] [device description]] of the controller.
::* Returns the type of input after the device name as one or more of the following types:
::: [{{KW|BUTTON}}] indicates there are button types of input. [[_LASTBUTTON]] can return the number of buttons available. 
::: [{{KW|AXIS}}] indicates there are stick types of input. [[_LASTAXIS]] can return the number of axis available. 
::: [{{KW|WHEEL}}] indicates that a scrolling input can be read. [[_LASTWHEEL]] can return the number of wheels available.

* '''Device numbers above the number of [[_DEVICES|devices]] found will return an OS error!'''
* Devices found include keyboard, mouse, joysticks, game pads and multiple stick game controllers.


''Example 1:'' Checking for the system's input devices and the number of buttons available.
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
devices = {{Cl|_DEVICES}}  'MUST be read in order for other 2 device functions to work!
PRINT &quot;Number of input devices found =&quot;; devices
FOR i = 1 TO devices
  PRINT {{Cl|_DEVICE$}}(i)
  PRINT &quot;Buttons:&quot;; {{Cl|_LASTBUTTON}}(i); &quot;Axis:&quot;; {{Cl|_LASTAXIS}}(i); &quot;Wheels:&quot;; {{Cl|_LASTWHEEL}}(i)
NEXT '' ''
{{CodeEnd}}
{{OutputStart}}Number of input devices found = 3
[KEYBOARD][BUTTON]
Buttons: 512 Axis: 0 Wheels: 0
[MOUSE][BUTTON][AXIS][WHEEL]
Buttons: 3 Axis: 2 Wheels: 3
[CONTROLLER][[NAME][Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro (USB)]][BUTTON][AXIS]
Buttons: 9 Axis: 6 Wheels: 0
{{OutputEnd}}
:Note: The [[STRIG]]/[[STICK]] commands won't read from the keyboard or mouse device the above example lists. They will only work on controllers.


''Example 2:'' Finding the number of mouse buttons available in QB64. This could also be used for other devices.
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
{{Cl|FOR...NEXT|FOR}} d = 1 {{Cl|TO}} {{Cl|_DEVICES}}  'number of input devices found
  dev$ = {{Cl|_DEVICE$}}(d)
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} {{Cl|INSTR}}(dev$, &quot;[MOUSE]&quot;) {{Cl|THEN}} buttons = {{Cl|_LASTBUTTON}}(d): {{Cl|EXIT}} {{Cl|FOR...NEXT|FOR}}
{{Cl|NEXT}}
{{Cl|PRINT}} buttons; &quot;mouse buttons available&quot; '' ''
{{CodeEnd}}


''See also:''
* [[_DEVICES]], [[_DEVICEINPUT]]
* [[_LASTBUTTON]], [[_LASTAXIS]], [[_LASTWHEEL]]
* [[_BUTTON]], [[_BUTTONCHANGE]]
* [[_AXIS]], [[_WHEEL]]
* [[_MOUSEBUTTON]]
* [[STRIG]], [[STICK]]
* [[ON STRIG(n)]], [[STRIG(n)]]
* [[Controller Devices]]


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