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Glite Dictionary
📝 Arranges layout 🖨️ Printer controller 💾 Erases and prepares
formatter

formatter

6.5
A board inside a printer that processes print data and controls printing
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔːrmætər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : formateador
  • The printer's formatter ensures that the data is processed correctly before printing each page.

Examples

  • To enhance print quality, the new formatter adjusts settings based on the type of document being printed.

  • After the data is received, the formatter converts it into a format suitable for the printer.

  • Application and system dumps and formatters also include the new registers.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Ideally, for this application, the interface should be capable of integration as part of a larger chip that includes other functions such as the disk formatter.

    Academic text (1996)

Surface Forms

formatter singular
formatters plural

Morphology

formatter = format (semi-transparent) = format + er

Built from the verb 'format' + agent/instrument '-er'; the derivation is regular but the specific technical hardware meaning (a printer controller) is specialized and may not be obvious to general learners.

Etymology

The word formatter comes from format, from the Latin forma meaning 'shape', plus -er meaning 'one who does'. A printer formatter 'shapes' the raw print data into the right form the printer can use, which is why it controls how printing works.