Short for
Common UNIX Printing System, CUPS is a portable printing layer used on
UNIX-based operating systems to provide a common printing
interface across a
local network. CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol (
IPP)
for managing print jobs, print queues and it adds network printer browsing and
PostScript Printer Description-based printing options. CUPS was first developed
by Easy Software Products, but it is currently owned and maintained by
Apple
Inc.
