Difference between Printer and Scanner

The key difference between printers and scanners is that printers are output devices that print documents on paper (hard copy), while scanners are input devices that capture printed text in digital format (soft copy). Printers print out text or images, while scanners scan documents, photographs, or other images.

In this article, we will discuss the differences between printers and scanners and examine their functionality. Read this article to learn about these differences and discuss each one separately.

Printer

A printer is an external hardware output device that transforms the text and graphics output from the computer into a physical, hard-copy document. In other words, it takes the soft copy and produces prints of it. A wide variety of printers are available on the market, each with different features such as speed, cost, size, and print quality. Some printers are also more complex than others in terms of their construction.

There are different types of printers:

• Dot-Matrix printer
• Daisy Wheel Printer
• Line Printer
• Laser printer, etc.

Scanner

The scanner is an input device that works like the reverse of a printer, which means the scanner scans the printer text or images into digital format (soft copy). The scanner uses optical technology and specialized sensors to convert images from printer text to soft copy.

Scanners are popular devices that save paper and time. They allow you to create digital copies of physical documents and other items, which prevents them from being destroyed or damaged. When you invest in a scanner, you can scan photos, text documents, artwork, and other forms of media to preserve them for years to come.

There are different types of scanners, depending on their functionality and shape.

• Handheld scanner
• Flatbed scanner
• Drum scanner

Printer vs Scanners

The main differences between printers and scanners are given below:

Printers	Scanners
Printers produce a hard copy of the document	Scanners create a digital version of the printed text or images etc.
The printer is an output device.	The scanner is an input device.
In the scanner, an illuminating lamp is used on the scan head. The lamp reflects light onto the lens, which then focuses on the CCD (Charged Couple Device) array.	In the Scanner, an illuminating lamp is used on the scan head, reflecting the light onto the lens, then focused on the CCD (Charged Couple Device) array.
Types of printer: Dot-Matrix printer Daisy Wheel Printer Line Printer Laser printer, etc.	Types of scanner: Handheld scanner Flatbed scanner Drum scanner, etc.

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