Glossary · Definition
Print Driver
A print driver is the translator between applications and a particular printer. Driver mismatches are a common cause of failed or incorrect output.
By PrinterArchive EditorialEdited by PrinterArchive Editorial
A print driver sits between an application and a printer, converting a generic print request into the specific commands and page format the target printer expects, and exposing the printer's options to the system.
Because printers differ in command languages and features, an incorrect or mismatched driver is a frequent cause of failed jobs or wrong output. Driver-free standards reduce this dependency for compatible devices.
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Related reading
Guides · Introductory
How Printer Drivers Work
What a printer driver does, why it sits between applications and the printer, and how driver-free printing changed things.
Glossary · Definition
Print Spooler
The print spooler is the system component that accepts print jobs and manages them while they wait to print.
Glossary · Definition
Print Queue
The print queue is the ordered list of jobs waiting to print on a particular printer.
Glossary · Definition
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
DPI measures how many individual dots a printer places, or a scanner samples, per linear inch — a core measure of resolution.