Päätejärjestelmä

Päätejärjestelmä is a Finnish term that translates to "terminal system" or "end system" in English. In computing and telecommunications, it refers to a device at the end of a communication link. This typically means a user-facing device that interacts directly with a network or a central system. Examples of päätejärjestelmä include personal computers, smartphones, tablets, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and other user interfaces.

These systems are responsible for receiving input from a user and sending it to a network or a server, as well as receiving data from the network or server and displaying it to the user. They are distinct from the intermediate network infrastructure, such as routers, switches, or servers that handle the transmission and processing of data between multiple end systems. The functionality and complexity of a päätejärjestelmä can vary greatly depending on its purpose, from simple devices with limited capabilities to powerful workstations capable of complex operations. The term emphasizes the role of the device as the point where human interaction with the digital world or network begins and ends.