A popular printer for home computer users that prints by spraying streams of quick-drying ink on paper. The ink is stored in disposable ink cartridges, and often a separate cartridge is used for each of the major colors. These colors are usually CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). The picture is an example of a computer inkjet printer.

Although inkjet printers themselves are often relatively inexpensive, the ink cartridges used in the printers can increase the overall cost of the printer.

Inkjet printer history

The first inkjet printer was invented and developed by Hewlett-Packard in 1976. However, inkjet printers did not gain much popularity until the mid-1980s.

If you have no plans to print in color, we highly recommend a laser printer instead of an inkjet printer.

Hewlett-Packard introduced the HP DeskJet inkjet printer in 1988, considered to be the first mass-marketed inkjet printer. The HP DeskJet series of printers became a popular series of inkjet printers and is still a model name used today.

3D printer, Ink cartridge, Laser printer, Page printer, Printer, Printer terms

  • Inkjet vs. laser printer.
  • How to clean an inkjet printer.
  • How to save ink cartridge from clogging or drying up.
  • How to set up and install a computer printer.
  • Printer help and support.