Editing Printer driver (section)

=== Unix and Unix-like ===
[[Unix]] and other [[Unix-like]] systems such as [[Linux]] and [[OS X]] use [[CUPS]] (short for Common Unix Printing System), a modular printing system for Unix-like computer operating systems, which allows a computer to act as a [[print server]]. A computer running CUPS is a host that can accept print jobs from client computers, process them, and send them to the appropriate printer. Printer drivers are typically implemented as [[filter program|filters]]. They are usually named the ''front end'' of the printing system, while the printer spoolers constitute the ''back end''.

Backends are also used to determine the available devices. On startup, each backend is asked for a list of devices it supports, and any information that is available.