# Printer Job Language

> method developed by Hewlett-Packard for switching printer languages at the job level

**Wikidata**: [Q2110518](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2110518)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_Job_Language)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/printer-job-language

## Summary
Printer Job Language (PJL) is a method developed by Hewlett-Packard for switching printer languages at the job level. It functions as a page description language that describes the appearance of printed pages in a higher-level format than an actual output bitmap.

## Key Facts
- Printer Job Language (PJL) was developed by Hewlett-Packard, an American information technology company founded in 1939.
- PJL enables switching between different printer languages at the job level, allowing for more flexible document processing.
- It is based on Printer Command Language, another printer language developed by HP.
- PJL is classified as a page description language, which describes the appearance of a printed page in a higher-level format than an actual output bitmap.
- The language has a Freebase ID of /m/09mb8p.
- PJL is documented in four Wikipedia languages: German (de), English (en), Japanese (ja), and Dutch (nl).
- Hewlett-Packard, the developer of PJL, is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Printer Job Language used for?
A: Printer Job Language (PJL) is used to switch between different printer languages at the job level, allowing printers to handle multiple document types and formats more efficiently. This capability enables more flexible document processing and management in printing environments.

### Q: Which company developed Printer Job Language?
A: Printer Job Language was developed by Hewlett-Packard, an American information technology company that was founded in 1939 and headquartered in Palo Alto, United States.

### Q: How does Printer Job Language relate to Printer Command Language?
A: Printer Job Language is based on Printer Command Language, which is another printer language also developed by Hewlett-Packard. The relationship between these two languages indicates an evolutionary development in HP's printer language technologies.

### Q: What languages is Printer Job Language available in?
A: Printer Job Language documentation is available in multiple languages including German (de), English (en), Japanese (ja), and Dutch (nl), as evidenced by the Wikipedia pages in these languages.

## Why It Matters
Printer Job Language represents a significant advancement in printing technology by allowing printers to dynamically switch between different languages at the job level. This capability enables more efficient document processing, reduces the need for multiple specialized printers, and provides greater flexibility in managing diverse printing tasks. PJL's development by Hewlett-Packard, a leader in printing technology, helped standardize how printers handle different document types and formats, improving interoperability between various printing systems and reducing compatibility issues. This technology ultimately contributed to the evolution of more versatile and efficient printing infrastructure across multiple industries and applications.

## Notable For
- PJL enables switching printer languages at the job level, a feature that distinguishes it from more static printer languages that typically operate only in a single language mode.
- It was developed by Hewlett-Packard, a prominent American information technology company founded in 1939 with headquarters in Palo Alto, United States.
- As a page description language, PJL describes printed page appearance at a higher level than an actual output bitmap, providing more abstract representation of documents.
- PJL has Wikipedia documentation in four languages (German, English, Japanese, and Dutch), indicating its international relevance and adoption.

## Body
### Technical Foundation
Printer Job Language (PJL) is a method developed by Hewlett-Packard for switching printer languages at the job level. As a page description language, it describes the appearance of a printed page in a higher level than an actual output bitmap, providing more abstract representation of documents.

### Development History
PJL was created by Hewlett-Packard, an American information technology company founded in 1939 and headquartered in Palo Alto, United States. The language is based on Printer Command Language, another printer language developed by HP.

### Language Implementation
- PJL enables printers to dynamically switch between different languages at the job level
- This allows for more flexible document processing and management in printing environments
- The language provides a higher-level abstraction compared to raw bitmap data
- It supports multiple international languages, as evidenced by its documentation in German, English, Japanese, and Dutch

### Technical Specifications
- Freebase ID: /m/09mb8p
- Wikipedia title: Printer Job Language
- Instance of: page description language
- Based on: Printer Command Language
- Developer: Hewlett-Packard

### Documentation and Availability
PJL is documented across multiple languages, with Wikipedia pages available in German (de), English (en), Japanese (ja), and Dutch (nl). This multi-language documentation indicates its international relevance and adoption across different regions.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013