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Definition: printer friendly format


An optional layout on a Web page that enables only the essential text to print properly. The icons, navigation buttons, ads and graphics on a Web page might cause the text to be truncated or print in a garbled manner. Although more common in years past, the problem still exists, and a printer friendly option removes unwanted objects before printing.

Printer Friendly Automatically
Today, Web pages are mostly designed to print correctly without requiring the user to select a printer friendly option. The normal print function (File/Print, Ctrl-P, Command-P) prints the page properly. See screen capture.




A Printer Friendly Example
At the end of filing a tax form in 2005 on the IRS website, clicking Printer Friendly Version (upper left icon) ensured essential data printed properly.






More Need in the Past
Years ago, The New York Times offered a printer friendly option for its online articles. Subsequently, the site's enhanced formatting eliminated the need for a separate function.