Trackpad vs. Touchpad — What's the Difference?

Touchpad

A touchpad or trackpad is a pointing device featuring a tactile sensor, a specialized surface that can translate the motion and position of a user's fingers to a relative position on the operating system that is made output to the screen. Touchpads are a common feature of laptop computers as opposed to using a mouse on a desktop, and are also used as a substitute for a mouse where desk space is scarce.

A pointing device consisting of a soft pad sensitized to finger movement or pressure and used especially on laptop computers as an alternative to a mouse.

(computing) A flat surface which is sensitive to touch, used mostly in laptop computers to control an on-screen cursor.