Controllers – are hand held devices used in gaming to maneuver the characters or subjects you control. There exist many different types of controllers with particular specialties from complimenting unique playstyles to improving input accuracy. The more standard controllers compared to the ones professional esports players use differ in a number of technical ways. For instance some come with larger directional pads, more pronounced buttons, replaceable peripherals, and a whole host of other tools. Some of them differ in size, shape, color, name and are associated with big brand names (ie Razer, Nacon -Below).
Gaming on a PC utilizes a keyboard and mouse respectively. On such platforms there also exists personalized tools of the trade to up your game. PC gaming is often versatile enough for handheld controllers to be an option given that certain games provide it. But most are very fond of using one or the other depending on the game of choice they are playing and the benefits garnered. Mouse play offers extreme precision while controller pads offer great comfort.
Fun Fact: Fighting game players are famously known for still using retro arcade joysticks to this very day. They prove to be very helpful for accurate inputs in a genre dependent on executing a sequence of button presses in a limited time frame.