When it comes to computer data, there are sometimes seemingly subtle, yet significant differences between terms that may sound familiar but have very specific distinctions. Two such terms are LPR (pronounced “L-P-R”) and RAW. While related, the two terms have very different meanings and applications when it comes to computer data and printing.

Definitions

LPR stands for Line Printer Daemon, which is named after the traditional Unix process “line printer spoolerBS.” It is a protocol that allows files to be printed over a network. The LPR protocol works with both UNIX and Windows operating systems and is designed for sending print requests from remote computers.

RAW, on the other hand, is a type of file format that is used to store mostly uncompressed video, images, and audio on a computer. It does not store any “high-level data” such as descriptions of the data, meaning the RAW files must be processed with the proper software in order for it to be viewed or used.

Applications

The primary use of the LPR protocol is printing documents across a network, while the primary use of RAW file formats is for storing audiovisual data. By using the LPR protocol, users are able to send and receive print requests over a network. This helps maintain the integrity of the documents as they can be distributed and reproduced with little to no loss of fidelity and quality.

RAW file formats, meanwhile, are used to store data such as audio or video that is yet to be processed or compressed. When a file is stored in a RAW format, it does not contain any additional data about the file aside from the raw media data itself. This is ideal for preserving the original quality of the data when editing or processing it.