The Common Unix Printing System, also known as CUPS, is a system designed for Unix and Apple’s OS X that allows a computer act as a print server. A computer running CUPS can accept print jobs from other computers and route them to local and network printers using the Internet Printing Protocol, or IPP.

First released in June 1999, CUPS includes a print spooler, scheduler, a filter to convert data to a format understood by the printer, and a backend processor for routing print jobs. On July 13, 2007, Apple acquired the copyrights to CUPS and uses it in macOS.

Network printer, Printer terms, Print server, Print spooler

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