A printer is a hardware output device that prints a hard copy of any document. It accepts input commands that are sent from other software programs or on other devices to print the desired document on paper or some other material such as a plastic card. The speed of a printer can be measured in terms of the number of pages printed per minute. This is usually a factor when buying a new printer.
The invention of printing was one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. Its early development was influenced by the availability of a woodblock press, which could produce 2,000 books per day. This allowed Confucian classics, Buddhist scriptures and dictionaries to be printed in quantity for the first time. It was probably Marco Polo or other Silk Road travellers who saw this technology in China and brought it to Europe, inspiring Johann Gutenberg to develop European movable type printing.
Modern printers are able to be connected to one or more computers by either USB or wirelessly over a Wi-Fi network. One of the most important features of a printer is its ability to use different media, including different types of ink and paper. It is recommended to choose a printer that supports the types of media you will be using frequently.
The most common printers are inkjet and laser. Inkjet printers are inexpensive and can be used to print text, images and photos. They are often not very reliable and it is necessary to keep extra ink cartridges on hand. Laser printers cost more but are more reliable and produce high quality images. They can also be used to print on plastic cards for access control, photo personalization and sports and public transport tickets. Plotters are another type of printer that can be used to draw vector graphics on a flat sheet such as steel, aluminum, plastic or plywood.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=What+Is+a+Printer%3F|Printer+Stuff&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_d8e6fd3a6f1492ac3152e5a320efd4ef
iDPRT Mini Sticker Maker Portable Printer with 1 Roll Sticker Paper - Bluetooth Inkless Printers for Study Notes, Pictures, DIY, Label, iOS & Android Free App with Multiple Templates, Grey
$9.99 (as of July 3, 2025 21:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
yanxio Portable Printers Wireless for Travel, Portable Printer, Inkless Thermal Printer, Support A4/8.5 x 11'' Thermal Paper for Office, Travel, Home, Support iOS, Android, Windows (White)
$55.99 (as of July 3, 2025 21:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, scan, Copy, ADF, Duplex Printing, Home & Office, 3 Months of Instant Ink Included (405T6A)
$139.99 (as of July 3, 2025 21:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
HP DeskJet 4158e All-in-One Printer - Print, Copy, Scan, and Fax - 60-Sheet Input Tray - 25-Sheet Output Tray - Print Speed up to 8.5 Pages per Minute - Wireless Printing
$59.99 (as of July 3, 2025 21:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
NULLTONEX Bluetooth Thermal Shipping Label Printer: 4x6 Wireless Mini Clear Label Maker with Waterproof Tape for Small Business - Widely Used for USPS UPS Ebay Amazon Shopify Etsy
$64.99 (as of July 3, 2025 21:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Liene M100 4x6'' Photo Printer, Phone Printer 100 Sheets & 3 Cartridges, Full-Color Photo, Portable Instant Photo Printer for iPhone Android, Thermal Dye Sublimation, Wi-Fi Picture Printer 100 Papers
$159.99 (as of July 3, 2025 21:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)