Dot matrix printer

A dot matrix printer or impact matrix printer normally refers to a type of computer printer with a print-head that runs back and forth on the page and prints by impact.

Most often it is an impact printer. Generally the print-head prints one line of text. Most have a single vertical line of dot-making equipment on their print-heads, others have interleaved rows in order to improve dot density. They emboss a print ribbon, like a typewriter.

Certain models produce double-wide or bold characters by printing each vertical slice of a character twice. It produces higher resolutions by printing more slowly. It produces graphics by printing dots, one horizontal character-high stripe at a time. They produced colour by extra passes and moving a striped ribbon vertically between passes. The print head will tilt at one angle to print the each component of each primary color.

They are inexpensive, and until the 1990s the most common form of printer used with PCss. They remain in use in devices such as cash registers, ATM printouts and in industry where a carbon copy is required.

Dot matrix could describe all other types except golf-ball, daisy wheel and wheel type line printers.

All inkjet, bubblejet and laser printers use a dot matrix to describe each character or graphic, with the possible exception of a mainframe laser line printer