A KVM switch is a hardware device or an embedded system and computers are connected to it. Through single mouse, keyboard and video monitor a user can control any pc connected to the switch. Mouse, keyboard, and video monitor are connected to the KVM switch. Also the computers are connected to the KVM switch through cables. Control is switched to the desired PC either manually through buttons on KVM switch or by keyboard commands. Though numbers of computers is connected to KVM switch but only one is selected at a time. Some KVM devices allow sharing of USB and speakers with other computers. Some KVM switches send signals to the non-selected computers as an indication that they are still attached.

The maximum number of computers attached to a single KVM switch depends upon the device specifications. Some devices allow 64 and even more computers to be controlled through single mouse, keyboard, and monitor. The application KVM switches can be seen in data warehouses or data centers. In such centers data is placed in multiple computers or servers. These servers are attached to the KVM switch. The data required is obtained from keyboard, mouse and video display.

The KVM switching can be achieved through software. But the software only covers keyboard and mouse but not the video display. Software is good alternative to KVM switch if each computer has a dedicated monitor.