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A computer printer is an output device that creates a hard copy of digital data, typically by producing a paper copy of text and graphics from a connected computer. Key terms include inkjet, which sprays ink, and laser, which uses a laser and toner; other types include 3D printers that create physical objects and thermal printers that use heat. A print job is a specific document or set of documents sent to the printer, and a spooler is a function that manages and queues these jobs.

Printer terms explained

Printer: A peripheral device that receives electronic signals from a computer and transfers the information to a physical medium, most commonly paper, to create a permanent, readable copy.

Output device: A piece of computer hardware that receives data from a computer and converts it into a human-understandable format.

Hard copy: A physical printout of data, such as a document on paper, as opposed to the "soft copy" displayed on a monitor.

Print job: The process of sending a document to a printer. This can be a single file or multiple files, assigned a unique job number by the system.

Print spooler: A software program that temporarily stores print jobs in a queue before sending them to the printer. This allows the computer to continue with other tasks without waiting for the printer to finish.