What is a Print Spooler?

Spooling in the computer realm is a specialized type of multi-programming that allows distribution of copied data between different devices. This allows for fast and efficient mediation of data between computer applications and a rather slowly peripheral (most commonly, a printer). The main advantage of spooling is that it allows programs to delegate work to the peripheral, while the computer proceeds to do other tasks. The most common application of spooling today is printing. A print spooler software solution allows for documents (that are already formatted for printing) to be stored in a queue until the printer can produce the printed output at its own speed.

Print spooler software manages printing jobs for electronic printing devices. They are especially useful in commercial and industrial settings where certain printing jobs are often placed in specific priority levels, depending on their time stamp. Print spoolers are also advantageous for mass printing jobs or printing environments where document handling is done by a central device, shared by several different users. A good printing management software product also has provisions for custom settings where users can be alerted when a job has been fulfilled or where printing jobs can be assigned to different machines so multiple materials can be printed simultaneously.

Not all printing management systems are the same, but they are generally designed to place print jobs in a specific (and separate) area of a computer’s hard drive so they can be processed separately from whichever application they came from. The print spooler software removes the burden of the print process from the originating application, thus allowing it to process other tasks without having to wait on the previous printing job to compete. Without print management software, users would not be able to continue using a particular program until the printing process is done—which can cause many inefficiencies.

Print spoolers have a wide range of applications. They can be installed on both personal and commercial computer systems alike, removing the burden of printing from various programs like word and data processors and photo editors. Office and industrial settings also benefit much from printing management software as programs like these enable processing tasks to continue even while large-scale printing jobs are being carried out. Print spoolers are likewise commonly found in office computers in order to help users assign print jobs to various printers within the same network, thus streamlining document processing and production.

Tim Miller loves writing. I write on almost all topics. Topics that are informative and knowledgeable. Our aim is to provide the best information to all of our visitors.