Translation guide
A computer terminal with no local processing power, used only for input and output to a central computer.
dumb terminal
Most common and natural term in Japanese IT contexts.
The user wants to refer to a hardware device that only displays and sends data, relying on a remote host.
Direct loanword from English, widely understood in IT contexts.
In casual conversation, 'ダム端末' is fine. In formal technical writing, you might see '非インテリジェント端末' or simply '端末' when the context is clear.
This dumb terminal is connected to the mainframe.
Often used interchangeably with 'dumb terminal' in modern contexts, though technically a thin client may have minimal local processing.
Using thin clients improves security.
Literal translation, more formal and less common. Used in technical documentation.
Non-intelligent terminals depend on the host for all processing.