What is docking and undocking state for laptops?

Question

When I study IT books, I see words like "docking" or "undocking" for laptop computers. what do these words mean?

Answer 1

Most Laptops have an optional accessory known as a 'Docking Station'. These are mainly aimed at Business Users who want to use a full sized Keyboard, proper mouse and a decent display when working at their desk.

So a Docking Station is an electronic box that the Laptop can be 'plugged into' and which then links the Laptop to a proper keyboard mouse etc. It also supplies power (so the Laptop can be charged up & does not have to run off it's internal batteries). Often the Docking Station will include sockets for a network (Ethernet) Cable and additional USB ports.

All of this needs different Drivers to be used on the Laptop. Hence the two states 'Undocked' (for Laptops own Keyboard and built in 'touch pad' mouse and the wireless network Drivers to run) and 'Docked' (when the 'docking' drivers are used instead).

Typically you will also see Power settings (Docked = 'never power off', Undocked = 'power off after 5 mins without use' or some such).

Answer 2

It most likely refers to attaching the computer to a laptop dock, which is a device you plug a keyboard, monitor, and mouse into to allow you to use your laptop as if it were a desktop computer while at your desk. Undocking would be detaching it from the dock to use it as a mobile computer again.