Spooling is commonly used with:

Spooling is commonly used with network printers. The term "spooling" stands for Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line, which refers to a process where data is temporarily stored in a buffer before being sent to a device for processing. In the context of network printers, spooling allows multiple print jobs to be queued and managed efficiently, ensuring that the printer operates smoothly even when multiple users send documents to be printed at the same time.

When a user sends a document to a network printer, the operating system first stores this document in a spool file on the hard disk. This allows the printer to continue receiving and queuing additional print jobs without having to wait for the current job to finish. As a result, spooling enhances productivity, especially in environments where many users are accessing a single network printer. It minimizes idle time and allows the printer to handle requests in an orderly fashion, processing them one at a time while ensuring that all jobs are ultimately completed.

In contrast, spooling is not typically associated with hard disks, monitors, or keyboards. While hard disks are used for storage and retrieve data, they do not perform the same role as spooling in managing print jobs. Monitors display information and keyboards serve as input devices, neither of which involves the queuing mechanism that spooling provides. Understanding the specific applications of spooling can be crucial for exams, particularly in computing and information technology contexts, as it highlights the efficiency and functionality of networked systems in handling output tasks.