What is the primary means of communication for printers as output devices?

The primary means of communication for printers as output devices is through coded characters from a computer. Printers operate by receiving data that is essentially a representation of text and images encoded in a specific format from the computer. This data is sent to the printer using various protocols that essentially define how the characters are represented and structured before being printed onto paper.

When a computer sends information to a printer, it usually does so using a language that the printer understands, such as Printer Command Language (PCL) or PostScript. These languages consist of coded characters that instruct the printer on how to produce the desired output. This process involves converting data from a digital format used by computers into a format suitable for physical reproduction.

The other options, while they reference various methods of communication or output, do not describe the core mechanism by which printers typically interface with computers. Wireless signals, while applicable to some modern printers, are not the primary communication method in general. Encoded serial data may describe a certain technical aspect of communication but is less about the purpose of the data itself. Visual display output refers more to screens rather than the actual output produced by printers. Thus, coded characters from a computer are fundamental to the operation of printers as they define the information to be printed.