PCL
Short for Printer Command Language, PCL is a language that printers use to interpret and produce documents. It is essentially a set of commands and codes that tell a printer how to format and print text and graphics. Although the technology was originally introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 1984, it is known for its flexibility and compatibility with various printing devices.
PCL version information
There have been many different versions of PCL over the years, with PCL 5 and PCL 6 being among the most popular. The first version, PCL 1, was released with the HP ThinkJet 2225, an inkjet printer. Not long after, HP released the PCL 3, which worked with their LaserJet models as well. Each subsequent version of the Printer Command Language adds new features and improves the resolution of printer output.