What is Computer printer?
[[File:Lexmark X5100 Series.jpg|right|thumb|A [[Lexmark]] printer]] A '''computer printer''' is a piece of [[computer hardware|hardware]] for a [[computer]]. It allows a user to print items on [[paper]], such as letters and pictures. Usually a printer prints under the control of a computer. Many can also work as a [[photocopier]] or with a [[digital camera]] to print directly without using a computer. == Types of printers == Today, the following types of printers are in regular use: * [[Inkjet printer]]s, also sometimes called ''bubble jet printers'' throw colored [[ink]] onto a paper. * [[Plotter]]s are large format inkjet printers, or printers that use special [[pen]]s. * [[Laser printer]]s transfer tiny particles of toner onto the paper. Most do not print colors. * [[Dye sublimation printer]]s produce very high quality images. Three colors are used. [[Cyan]], [[Magenta]] and [[Yellow]]. Each color is printed one at a time from [[cellophane]] sheets. The image is the sealed with an clear top layer. Some small photographic printers made by [[Kodak]] and [[Canon (company)|Canon]] use this process. * Thermal printer is an inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated pins against heat-sensitive paper. Thermal printers are widely used in [[calculator]]s and [[fax]] machines. Many 20th century computer printers worked this way. * Impact printers worked by striking the paper with an inked [[ribbon]]. They were noisy. **[[Dot-matrix printer]]s are now almost extinct. There were models with 9 [[pin]]s and models with 24 pins. ** [[Daisy Wheel printer]]s were a [[typewriter]] printer. Results looked hand-typed. They had no real graphics and were very loud. Few were made in the 21st century. ** [[Line printer]]s contain a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at one time. Line printers are very fast, but produce low-quality print. == Producing output == Printers are programmed using a [[programming language]]. The printer interprets the program, and the outputs the result. There are two big classes