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Printer
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A device that creates images or text on paper. The term can refer to both the physical hardware (print device) and its software representation (logical printer).
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Inkjet Printer
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A printer type that sprays liquid ink onto paper. Commonly used for home and office printing needs due to its ability to produce high-quality color prints.
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Laser Printer
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A printer type that uses toner powder and laser beams to create images on paper. Known for fast printing speeds and high-quality text output, often used in office environments.
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Printer Object / Logical Printer
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The software component that represents the printer on a computer, managing print jobs and settings.
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Print Device / Physical Printer
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The actual hardware unit that performs printing tasks.
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DPI (Dots Per Inch)
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A measure of print resolution; the number of individual dots a printer can produce within a linear inch. Higher DPI values generally indicate better print quality.
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PPM (Pages Per Minute)
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A measure of print speed, indicating how many pages a printer can print in one minute. Monochrome text typically prints faster than color images.
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ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
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A scanner feature that allows for the automatic feeding of multiple pages over a fixed scan head, improving efficiency for scanning multi-page documents.
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PnP (Plug and Play)
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A technology that allows a computer to automatically detect and configure hardware, such as a printer, without manual intervention.
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OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
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Software used to convert scanned text into editable digital documents by recognizing characters from a scanned image.
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PDL (Page Description Language)
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A language used by printers to describe the layout and content of a page to be printed, converting digital print commands into a raster file. Common PDLs include Adobe PostScript and PCL (HP Printer Control Language).
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PS (Adobe PostScript)
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A device-independent Page Description Language often used for professional desktop publishing and graphic design, known for its consistent output quality.
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PCL (Printer Control Language)
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A Page Description Language developed by HP, closely tied to specific printer models, typically offering faster print speeds than PostScript.
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DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
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A network protocol used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network, including printers.
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FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name)
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The complete domain name for a specific computer or printer on the internet, allowing users to connect to it via its name rather than IP address.
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SMB (Server Message Block) / Scan to Folder
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A network scan service that saves a scanned document to a shared network folder, requiring configuration with the path to a file server and proper user permissions.
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Scan to Email
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A network scan service that sends a scanned document as an email attachment, requiring configuration with an SMTP server.
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Scan to Cloud Services
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A network scan service that uploads scanned documents to a cloud storage account like OneDrive or Dropbox.
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Secured Print
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A security feature that holds a print job on the printer until the user authenticates directly with the device, preventing unauthorized access to printed materials.
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Network Authentication
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A security feature where a printer communicates with a directory server to authenticate users before allowing access to print services.
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Local Authentication
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A security feature where the printer itself stores a list of valid usernames and passwords, restricting access to authorized users.
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Audit Log
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A record of all print jobs processed by a printer, providing a trail of document activity for security and tracking purposes.
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Automatic Duplex Unit
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A printer feature that allows automatic double-sided printing, often available as an add-on component.
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Finisher Unit
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A printer add-on that provides additional finishing options, such as stapling, folding, and hole-punching.
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MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)
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A document that provides safety information about the materials used in a printer, including any special installation or handling considerations.
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Wireless Print Interfaces
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Wireless connection options for printers, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, enabling flexible placement and easy access without the need for physical cables.
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Wi-Fi (Infrastructure Mode)
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A wireless network configuration where the printer connects to a Wi-Fi access point, making it available to clients on the network via an IP address or FQDN.
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Wi-Fi Direct
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A wireless configuration that allows direct connections between the printer and client devices without needing a traditional Wi-Fi network.