Glossary · Definition
Print Spooler
The print spooler holds and orders print jobs so applications do not have to wait for the printer. It is a frequent factor in stuck or stalled printing.
By PrinterArchive EditorialEdited by PrinterArchive Editorial
The print spooler is the part of the operating system that receives print jobs from applications and holds them until the printer can process them. It lets an application hand off a job quickly instead of waiting for the printer.
Because all jobs pass through it, the spooler is a common point of failure: a stuck job in the spooler can hold up the queue and make a printer appear offline or unresponsive until the job is cleared.
Continue in the archive
Related reading
Glossary · Definition
Print Queue
The print queue is the ordered list of jobs waiting to print on a particular printer.
Glossary · Definition
Print Driver
A print driver is software that translates an application's print request into instructions a specific printer understands.
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.
Glossary · Definition
Duplex Printing
Duplex printing produces output on both sides of a sheet. It can be automatic or manual depending on the printer.