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A peripheral device is best described as an external device connected to the computer that enhances its functionality. These devices can include items like printers, scanners, mice, and keyboards that, while not essential for the computer to operate, provide additional capabilities.

The distinction lies in the fact that peripheral devices interact with the computer to perform specific tasks or provide input/output functions but are not integral components of the computer's core architecture, such as the motherboard or the CPU. This is why the focus is on their external nature, signifying that they complement the system instead of being embedded within it.

In contrast, choices that describe a device as required for the computer to run, like essential internal components, do not capture the essence of what a peripheral is. Additionally, a description of components embedded within the motherboard or specific types of data storage does not align with the definition of peripheral devices, which are fundamentally about external connections and interactions.