• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About Technipages

Printer Driver

By Mel Hawthorne

Drivers are a type of software that is necessary in order to be able to print things – or for the printer and computer to be able to interact with each other. This is true for all brands and all models – an HP printer still needs drivers to interact with an HP computer. The driver is stored or installed on the computer rather than the printer, and provides a guided protocol that allows the computer to ‘translate’ instructions to something the printer can print.

 

Technipages Explains Printer Driver

Print drivers are not the same as print spoolers, which are responsible for sending and queuing the different print jobs before sending them one by one. The purpose of the driver is similar to that of an interpreter – it allows two fundamentally different and otherwise incompatible devices to communicate. Having outdated or no drivers can mean that a printer won’t work as expected or not be recognised by the computer at all.

For this reason, it’s important for a driver to always be up to date, otherwise printing just may not work. Drivers are specific to a brand and model (or group of models, such as very similar machines) and the operating system of a computer. This means that the same printer needs three different drivers in order to work with a Unix, Windows and Mac computer.

Previously, printer drivers often came shipped with a CD or DVD packed with the printer, while now they are generally available via download, or can be installed via USB connection from the printer itself.

Common Uses of Printer Driver

  • Printer drivers are a type of software responsible for facilitating the communication between a computer and a printer.
  • Without the correct printer drivers, print jobs are likely to not work correctly if at all.
  • Printer drivers are created and published by the creator of the printer, for each available operating system (or at least the most common ones.

Common Misuses of Printer Driver

  • Printer drivers govern the communication between printers and computers and take care of lining up print jobs.

You Might Also Like

  • Windows: Solve "Unable to install printer. Another printer or printer with this name already exists"
    Windows: Solve "Unable to install printer. Another printer…
  • Fix: Function Driver Was Not Specified for This Device Instance
    Fix: Function Driver Was Not Specified for This Device…
  • How to Pre-Install Drivers in Windows Driver Store
    How to Pre-Install Drivers in Windows Driver Store
  • Fix Windows 10 Registry Filter Driver Exception
    Fix Windows 10 Registry Filter Driver Exception
  • How to Fix Audio Driver Error Code 52 on Windows PCs
    How to Fix Audio Driver Error Code 52 on Windows PCs
  • Enable/Disable Device Driver Signing in Windows 10
    Enable/Disable Device Driver Signing in Windows 10
  • Fix Intel WI-FI 6 AX201 Adapter Driver or Hardware Issues
    Fix Intel WI-FI 6 AX201 Adapter Driver or Hardware Issues
  • Fix: Microsoft IPP Class Driver Offers No Color, Only Greyscale
    Fix: Microsoft IPP Class Driver Offers No Color, Only…
  • How Do I Get My HP Printer to Clean Itself?
    How Do I Get My HP Printer to Clean Itself?

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Windows 11: How to Add Clocks with Different Time Zones
  • Google Assistant: How to Never Miss a Birthday
  • Windows 11: How to Disable Notifications and Ads
  • How to Use Oculus Quest 2 Air Link
  • How to Create an Avatar in the Oculus Quest 2
  • 5 Free and Fun Math Apps for Kids
  • Windows 11: How to Discover What Graphics Card You’re Using
  • How to Change Display Resolution on Windows 10 and 11

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

You May Also Like

  • Printer Font
  • Laser Printer
  • Best Budget Smartphone Photo Printer 2022
  • Best High-End Smartphone Photo Printer 2022

© Copyright 2022 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy