Grasp (spooler)

In the context of spooling, "grasp" refers to the point in the printing or processing pipeline where the spooler takes control of a print job or data stream. Specifically, it describes the moment the spooler receives the print job from the application initiating the request and begins managing its progress towards the intended output device. This action includes tasks like queuing the job, scheduling its execution, converting it into a device-compatible format (if necessary), and finally sending it to the printer or other output destination. The 'grasp' represents the handoff from the originating application to the spooler's management. The moment the spooler has a 'grasp' on the data, the application is generally free to continue its operations without waiting for the printing process to complete. The term is not widely standardized but is used informally to describe this control takeover.