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A hard copy is a physical, tangible version of information from a computer, most often a paper printout. It is the opposite of a “soft copy,” which is the digital, electronic version of the information. Hard copies are created by sending a digital file to a printer, which transfers the information onto paper using ink or toner.

Key aspects of a hard copy

Physical and tangible: A hard copy is something you can hold and touch, unlike a soft copy which exists only on a screen or as a file.

Created with a printer: The process involves a printer, which takes data from a computer and prints it on paper.

Non-editable: Once created, a hard copy is not easily editable. You would need to use a process like optical character recognition (OCR) to convert it back into an editable digital format.