Dot-matrix printer

Dot-matrix printers are printers for computers. A dot matrix printer creates characters by striking pins against ink ribbons. Each pin makes a dot and combinations of dots from characters and illustrations. This is much like a typewriter. Each character is made from a matrix of dots. Today, dot matrix printers are not used by many people anymore. They are still in use where forms (with multiple copies) need to be filled out.

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  An early Macintosh computer with a dot-matrix printer.

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  Example of a dot-matrix printout.