Lesson plan
Output padding
In computing, output padding is the insertion of non-printing characters into the device output stream to allow for a preceding control operation to take effect. Output padding was necessary on many printing devices, notably Teletype and other mechanical terminals, after the issuance of a carriage return. Without the padding, following characters might print in the middle of the output line. Output padding was also necessary on many display terminals after cursor positioning, scrolling, and other commands. Typically the null character was used; the delete character was occasionally used. The number of padding characters depended on the particular device, but also sometimes on the horizontal position of the printing carriage.
Article summary
In computing, output padding is the insertion of non-printing characters into the device output stream to allow for a preceding control operation to take effect. Output padding was necessary on many printing devices, notably Teletype and other mechanical terminals, after the issuance of a carriage return. Without the padding, following characters might print in the middle of the output line. Output padding was also necessary on many display terminals after cursor positioning, scrolling, and other commands. Typically the null character was used; the delete character was occasionally used. The number of padding characters depended on the particular device, but also sometimes on the horizontal position of the printing carriage.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.