A laser printer is a popular type of computerprinterthat uses a non-impact photocopier technology where there are no keys striking the paper.

When a document is sent to the printer, a laser beam "draws" the document on a selenium-coated drum using electrical charges. The drum is then rolled in toner, a dry powder type of ink that adheres to the charged image on the drum. The toner is transferred onto a piece of paper and fused to the paper with heat and pressure.

The laser printer was popularized in the mid-1980s as a standalone printer for use with personal computers. It typically replaced an impact dot matrix printer or a non-impactinkjet printer. Laser printers are still often connected directly to a single PC, but today many are linked to local area networks (LAN), supporting workgroups or entire departments.

In some cases, a laser printer is used as a multifunction peripheral with printing, scanning, photocopying and fax capabilities. These devices are known as multifunction printers (MFP). They usually have MFP or MFC for multifunction center as part of their model numbers.

How a laser printer works

Laser printers can be used in a home office or a small business office. Office connectivity is typically via an Ethernet connection. In a home office or small business, a cable or Wi-Fi are used to connect the printer to computing devices. Wi-Fi is also used to connect mobile devices to printers for mobile printing.

Laser printers can handle both black and white and color printing, though color laser printers are more expensive than monochrome laser printers. Typically, laser printers are used for printing whereas newer all-in-one printers can function as a printer, copier, scanner and fax. Many have user-friendly touchscreen displays.

The following steps detail how a laser printer works:

1. A photo, graphic or text image is sent to the printer, which begins the process of transferring that image to paper using a combination of positive and negative static electric charges.
2. The revolving drum gets a positive charge.
3. The system's electronics convert the image into a laser beam.
4. The laser beam bounces off a mirror onto the drum, drawing the image on the drum by burning a negative charge in the shape of the image.
5. Then the drum picks up the positively charged toner from the toner cartridge. The toner sticks to the negatively charged image on the drum.
6. Paper entering the printer receives a negative charge.
7. As the paper passes the drum, the paper's negative charge attracts toner from the positively charged drum; the toner literally sits on top of the paper.
8. The paper's charge is removed and a fuser permanently bonds the toner onto the paper.
9. The printed paper is released from the printer.
10. The electrical charge is removed from the drum, and the excess toner is collected.