evdev
also: event device, input event device
evdev (event device) is a Linux kernel driver that provides a unified interface for input devices like keyboards, mice, and touchpads, allowing applications to receive input events directly.
evdev is the event device interface in the Linux kernel that abstracts hardware input devices into a standardized event stream. Instead of different device types using different protocols, evdev captures keyboard presses, mouse movements, button clicks, and other input events and exposes them through character devices in /dev/input/event*.
Applications can read from these event device files to receive raw input data. For example, a program might read /dev/input/event0 to get keyboard events, receiving structured data about key codes and timestamps.
The evdev driver supports dozens of input device types—keyboards, mice, touchscreens, joysticks, and more—through a single, consistent interface. Most modern Linux desktop environments and input-handling systems (like X11 and Wayland) rely on evdev to receive user input.