<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article does not cite any sources . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article does not cite any sources . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> In computing and video gaming, a docking station or port replicator or dock provides a simplified way of "plugging - in" an electronic device such as the tablet - like hybrid video game console, the Nintendo Switch and laptop computer to common peripherals . Because a wide range of dockable devices--from mobile telephones to wireless mice--have different connectors, power signaling, and uses, docks are not standardized and are therefore often designed with a specific make and model of a device in mind . </P> <P> A dock can allow some laptop computers to become a substitute for a desktop computer, without sacrificing the mobile computing functionality of the machine . Portable computers can dock and undock hot, cold or standby, depending on the capabilities of the system . In a cold dock or undock, one completely shuts the computer down before docking / undocking . In a hot dock or undock, the computer remains running when docked / undocked . Standby docking or undocking, an intermediate style used in some designs, allows the computer to be docked / undocked while powered on, but requires that it be placed into a sleep mode prior to docking / undocking . </P>

What does a docking station for a laptop do