In computer processes, spooling is the practice of holding data in temporary storage for execution by another device or program. In modern systems, spooling is often used when data needs to be transferred from a program to a peripheral (such as a printer). The data transfer is managed by a dedicated program known as the spooler.
The term “spooling” is derived from the word “spool,” which refers to the temporary storage area in the computer’s memory. “Spool” is widely believed to be an acronym for “simultaneous peripheral operations on-line,” although it may also be a reference to cylinders that hold wound-up magnetic tape, film, or thread.
