A typewriter is a mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic devicewith a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printedon a document, usually paper.
In the late 19th century and at the start of the 20th century, aperson who operated such a device was sometimes called a typewriter butit then became more common to call the person a typist.
For much of the 20th Century, typewriters were indispensable toolsin business offices and for many (if not most) professional writers. Bythe 1980s, however, word processor applications on personal computerslargely overtook the tasks previously accomplished with typewriters.However, typewriters are still popular in the developing world andamong some niche markets.

The Typewriter is a famous piece in which an actual typewriter is the solo "instrument",
Leroy Anderson wrote The Typewriter for orchestra, completing thework on October 9, 1950. The Typewriter received its first performancewhen Leroy Anderson conducted his short piece (only one minute andforty-five seconds) for a Decca Records recording session on September8, 1953.