It is most often used for everyday text printing, including legacy applications, mainframe printing, and some vector graphics.

The PCL printer driver is considered an industry standard for print drivers, and it was developed by the popular printer brand HP in the 1980s. Let’s break these down in a little more detail: There are two main types of printer drivers: Printer Command Language (PCL), and PostScript (PS). Here is an example of a specific printer driver from Xerox that you would have to install on your computer to utilize all the features of your device:

Sometimes an additional installation is required for the computer to obtain the most appropriate selection of a driver. Printers can technically function with a generic driver, but it is a complicated process that involves a USB connection and an in-depth understanding of computer logistics. Its main purpose is to allow applications to print without being aware of the technical details of each printer model. What Are Printer Drivers?Ī printer driver, also known as a print driver, is a piece of software on a computer that converts data to be printed in a format that a printer can understand. That is why we have used our industry expertise to compile the most relevant information you need to know about printer drivers, including what they are, the different types of drivers, which one is right for you and how to update them. These are some of the most important things to know about printer drivers because as a print vendor that has been in the industry for almost 40 years, we know how frustrating it can be to deal with a service issue caused by an outdated print driver. There are different types of printer drivers you can get, and most will require updates at certain points to keep up with the machine’s software.

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t know what a printer driver is and what role they play in the functioning of a printer/copier.īut printer drivers do play an essential role in the performance of your office machine and could end up being the root of the problem if your printer is malfunctioning. What are printer drivers and why are they important to your printer’s daily operation?

Printer driver