What Is a Printer?

Printers, also known as computer printers, are electronic devices that accept text files or images from a computer and transfers them to a print medium such as paper or film. They can be connected directly to a computer or indirectly via a network.

Some printers use a laser beam or non-impact photocopier technology to print the images on paper, while other printers use toner (dry ink powder) or liquid inkjets to produce the text and graphics. The choice of printer technology can make a significant difference in printing speed, quality and permanence of the documents, as well as noise and cost of operation.

Generally, the software that is installed on the computer is able to communicate with almost any printer through a printer driver. This translation software allows the instructions that are sent to the printer from the computer’s operating system or application software to be converted into the form/language the printer can understand.

There are four types of data that can be transmitted to a printer: string of characters, bitmapped image, vector image and computer program written in a page description language such as PostScript or PCL. Inkjet-based plotters are capable of adequately reproducing all four types of data, while character printers and daisy wheel printers are not able to.

The hardware components of a printer include a paper feed assembly, ink cartridge, print head, stabilizer bar and belt. Some printers come with additional features such as a copier, fax machine, scanner and wireless connectivity.