A thermal printer is a type of printer that produces high-quality prints by using heat to transfer an image or text onto paper. Unlike traditional ink or toner-based printers, thermal printers use special heat-sensitive paper or thermal transfer ribbons. They are widely used in applications where fast, quiet, and reliable printing is required, such as billing, ticketing, labels, barcodes, and receipts. There are two main types of thermal printers: direct thermal, which prints by applying heat directly to thermal paper, and thermal transfer, which uses a heated ribbon to produce more durable prints. Known for their compact size, low maintenance, and cost efficiency, thermal printers are commonly found in retail, logistics, healthcare, and industrial environments.