A gamepad is a type of video game controller held in two hands, where the fingers are used to provide input. They are typically the main input device for video game consoles.
A Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, a typical modern gamepad
Shoulder buttons ("bumpers") and triggers on an Xbox 360 controller
The iconic NES controller
Six-button Genesis/Mega Drive controller that was released later
A game controller, gaming controller, or simply controller, is an input device or input/output device used with video games or entertainment systems to provide input to a video game. Input devices that have been classified as game controllers include keyboards, mice, gamepads, and joysticks, as well as special purpose devices, such as steering wheels for driving games and light guns for shooting games. Controllers designs have evolved to include directional pads, multiple buttons, analog sticks, joysticks, motion detection, touch screens and a plethora of other features.
A player holding a North American Super Nintendo Entertainment System controller
A modern recreation of the controller for the 1958 video game Tennis For Two
A Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, a typical modern two-stick gamepad
Paddle controllers were popular early in the 2nd console generation for Pong games.