What is the classification of printers in terms of input and output devices?

Printers are classified as output devices because their primary function is to produce a tangible representation of digital data, such as text or images, on paper or other media. The process involves taking processed data from a computer and converting it into a physical format that users can see and use.

Unlike input devices, which are designed to take data and send it to a computer (like keyboards and mice), printers do not capture data for further processing but instead provide finished results for end users. Their role in the information processing cycle is specifically oriented towards delivering outputs, making them essential for producing hard copies of documents, graphics, and other visual information generated from computer applications.

In this context, the other options do not apply as printers do not serve as input devices, nor do they function as both types of devices, nor are they classified as neither. Their definitive role is clearly established within the realm of output.