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In computing, "spooling" (acronym for Simultaneous Peripheral Operations On-Line) is the process of temporarily storing data in a queue (a **spool) to manage tasks between a fast computer and a slower peripheral device, like a printer. It allows users to send multiple jobs at once and continue working without waiting, as the data is handled sequentially from the queue once the device is ready. The most common example is print spooling, where documents are stored in a print queue until the printer can process them.

How spooling works

Temporary storage: When a job is sent to a spooler, it is not sent directly to the device. Instead, the data is saved in a temporary file on disk or in RAM, often in a folder called a spool folder.

Queuing: The jobs are placed in a queue, typically managed in a "first-in, first-out" (FIFO) order, ensuring they are processed in the order they were received.

Sequential processing: The slow device, such as a printer, fetches jobs from the queue one by one as it becomes ready to handle them.

Multitasking: This process allows the faster computer to continue running other tasks and prevents the user from being blocked while waiting for the slower device to complete a task.