EMZETT.Printer
In short: An output device that transfers digital content onto paper (or other materials) — e.g. inkjet, laser or 3D printers.
In more detail: On networks, printers are often shared centrally via a print server, so several clients can use the same printer, instead of every device needing its own directly connected printer hardware.
In Depth
Inkjet vs. laser
The two most common printing technologies work fundamentally differently: inkjet printers spray tiny ink droplets (often in the picolitre range) directly onto paper, which makes them well-suited for photo printing with fine colour gradients, but they dry more slowly and the ink cartridges are usually more expensive per page over sustained use — especially with cheap entry-level devices, which are often deliberately sold at a loss to make a profit from refill cartridges (the “razor-blade model”). Laser printers, by contrast, transfer electrostatically charged toner powder onto a rotating, light-sensitive drum and then fix it onto the paper with heat and pressure — faster to print, cheaper per page at high print volumes, but with higher upfront costs for the printer itself.
3D printing as a third category
Besides classic 2D printers, 3D printing has established itself as its own category: instead of applying ink or toner onto flat paper, three-dimensional objects are built up layer by layer, usually by melting and extruding plastic filament (FDM/FFF process) or by precisely curing liquid resin with light (SLA/resin process). Both processes follow the same basic principle as classic printing (digital template → physical result), but differ fundamentally in technology.
Network printers and spoolers
In company networks, printers are usually integrated centrally via a print server or directly as a network device (with its own IP address), allowing several clients to print via the same device, without every workstation needing its own printer hardware. The print job itself goes through a queue (spooler) on the client or server, which orders several simultaneous print jobs and passes them on to the printer one after another — practical when several users want to print at the same time, without jobs overwriting or getting lost.
Printing costs in practice
An often-underestimated cost factor is the price per printed page, which besides ink/toner also includes wear parts (drum, print head) — manufacturers rarely state this figure prominently, but it can be roughly calculated from the cartridge price and stated page yield, and varies considerably depending on the device and print quality, sometimes by a large multiple.
See also: Peripherals, Client