there are three main areas where text and binary mode files are different.

These are:

Handling of newlines

Representation of end of file

Storage of numbers
Let us explore these three differences:
In text mode, a newline character is converted into the carriage return-linefeed combination
before being written to the disk. Likewise, the carriage return-linefeed combination on the
disk is converted back into a newline when the file is read by a C program. However, if a file
is opened in binary mode, as opposed to text mode, these conversions will not take place.
The second difference between text and binary modes is in the way the end-of-file is
detected. In text mode, a special character, whose ASCII value is 26, is inserted after the
last character in the file to mark the end of file. If this character is detected at any point in
the file, the read function would return the EOF signal to the program. As against this, there
is no such special character present in the binary mode files to mark the end of file. The
binary mode files keep track of the end of file from the number of character present in the
directory entry of the file.
The last difference is storage of numbers. In text file the text and characters are stored one
character per byte, as we expect. But numbers are stored as strings of characters. Thus,
65112, even though it occupies 4 bytes in memory, when transferred to the disk using
fprintf(), would occupy 5 bytes, one byte per character. Here if large amount of data is to be
stored in a disk file, using text mode may turn out to be insufficient. The solution is to open
the file in binary mode and use those functions (fread() and fwrite()) ) which store the
numbers in binary format. It means each number would occupy same number of bytes on
disks as it occupies in memory.

Impact printers
An impact printer makes contact with the paper. It usually forms the print
image by pressing an inked ribbon against the paper using a hammer or pins.
Following are some examples of impact printers.

Dot-Matrix Printers
The dot-matrix printer uses print heads containing from 9 to 24 pins. These
pins produce patterns of dots on the paper to form the individual characters.
The 24 pin dot-matrix printer produces more dots that a 9 pin dot-matrix
printer, which results in much better quality and clearer characters. The
general rule is: the more pins, the clearer the letters on the paper. The pins
strike the ribbon individually as the print mechanism moves across the entire
print line in both directions, i-e, from left to right, then right to left, and so on.
The user can produce a color output with a dot-matrix printer (the user will
change the black ribbon with a ribbon that has color stripes). Dot-matrix
printers are inexpensive and typically print at speeds of 100-600 characters
per second.

Daisy-wheel printers
In order to get the quality of type found on typewriters, a daisy-wheel impact
printer can be used. It is called daisy-wheel printer because the print
mechanism looks like a daisy; at the end of each Petal is a fully formed
character which produces solid-line print. A hammer strikes a petal
containing a character against the ribbon, and the character prints on the
paper. Its speed is slow typically 25-55 characters per second.

Line printers
In business where enormous amount of material are printed, the character-ata-time printers are too slow; therefore, these users need line-at-a-time
printers. Line printers, or line-at-a-time printers, use special mechanism that
can print a whole line at once; they can typically print the range of 1,200 to
6,000 lines per minute. Drum, chain, and band printers are line-at-a-time
printers.

Drum printer
A drum printer consists of a solid, cylindrical drum that has raised characters
in bands on its surface. The number of print positions across the drum equals
the number available on the page. This number typically ranges from 80-132
print positions. The drum rotates at a rapid speed. For each possible print
position there is a print hammer located behind the paper. These hammers
strike the paper, along the ink ribbon, against the proper character on the
drum as it passes. One revolution of the drum is required to print each line.
This means that all characters on the line are not printed at exactly the same
time, but the time required to print the entire line is fast enough to call them
line printers. Typical speeds of drum printers are in the range of 300 to 2000
lines per minute.

Chain printers
A chain printer uses a chain of print characters wrapped around two pulleys.
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character appears at the desired print location on the page. The hammer then
strikes the page, pressing the paper against a ribbon and the character
located at thedesired print position. An impression of the character is left on
the page. The chain keeps rotating until all the required print positions on the
line have filled. Then the page moves up to print the next line. Speeds of chain
printers range from 400 to 2500 characters per minute.

Band printers
A band printer operates similar to chain printer except it uses a band instead
of a chain and has fewer hammers. Band printer has a steel band divided into
five sections of 48 characters each. The hammers on a band printer are
mounted on a cartridge that moves across the paper to the appropriate

positions. Characters are rotated into place and struck by the hammers. Font
styles can easily be changed by replacing a band or chain.

Non-impact printers
Non-impact printers do not use a striking device to produce characters on the
paper; and because these printers do not hammer against the paper they are
much quieter. Following are some non-impacted printers.

Ink-jet printers
Ink-jet printers work in the same fashion as dot-matrix printers in the form
images or characters with little dots. However, the dots are formed by tiny
droplets of ink. Ink-jet printers form characters on paper by spraying ink from
tiny nozzles through an electrical field that arranges the charged ink particles
into characters at the rate of approximately 250 characters per second. The
ink is absorbed into the paper and dries instantly. Various colors of ink can
also be used.
One or more nozzles in the print head emit a steady stream of ink drops.
Droplets of ink are electrically charged after leaving the nozzle. The droplets
are then guided to the paper by electrically charged deflecting plates [one
plate has positive charge (upper plate) and the other has negative charge
(lover plate)]. A nozzle for black ink may be all thats needed to print text, but
full-color printing is also possible with the addition of needed to print text, but
full-color printing is also possible with the addition three extra nozzles for
the cyan, magenta, and yellow primary colors. If a droplet isnt needed for the
character or image being formed, it is recycled back to its input nozzle.
Several manufacturers produce color ink-jet printer. Some of these printers
come with all their color inks in a cartridge; if you want to replace on color, you

must replace all the colors. Other color ink-jet printers allow you to replace ink
individually. These printers are a better choice if user uses one color more
than other colors. These printers produce less noise and print in better quality
with greater speed.

Laser printers
A laser printer works like a photocopy machine. Laser printers produce images
on paper by directing a laser beam at a mirror which bounces the beam onto a
drum. The drum has a special coating on it to which toner (an ink powder)
sticks. Using patterns of small dots, a laser beam conveys information from
the computer to a positively charged drum to become neutralized. From all
those areas of drum which become neutralized, the toner detaches. As the
paper rolls by the drum, the toner is transferred to the paper printing the letters
or other graphics on the paper. A hot roller bonds the toner to the paper.
Laser printers use buffers that store an entire page at a time. When a whole
page is loaded, it will be printed. The speed of laser printers is high and they
print quietly without producing much noise. Many home-use laser printers can
print eight pages per minute, but faster and print approximately 21,000 lines
per minute, or 437 pages per minute if each page contains 48 lines. When
high speed laser printers were introduced they were expensive. Developments
in the last few years have provided relatively low-cost laser printers for use in
small businesses.

Advantages of Laser Printer

The main advantage of Laser printer is its speed &

Laser printers produce high-quality output as

Laser printers are quite and does not produce

They are also capable to produce color prints.

Disadvantages of Laser Printer

The main disadvantage of Laser printer is its cost,

The maintenance, repair & servicing charges are also

Laser printers emit small amount of ozone and are