Does exist a standard protocol for network printers?

Question

Does exist a standard protocol for network printers? Some network printers require the installation of drivers to be used... Is there some network printer that can be used without installing additional drivers? After all, when we connect the network cable from the laptop to the router, we do not need to install drivers (any operating system already includes the driver).

Are there any open source projects related to protocols for communication with a network printer?

Answer 1

The standard protocols are the LPD or IPP protocols.

If you need to talk to a printer over the network, you can either attach it to a device that translates packets into USB/LPT commands, or attach it to a linux/windows PC and print through an LPD service running on that OS.

Answer 2

IPP Everywhere tries to be what you are asking for.

A PWG standard that allows personal computers and mobile devices to find and print to networked and USB printers without using vendor-specific software.