What does a Scanner typically do?

A scanner primarily serves to digitize physical documents and images by creating computer files from real-world objects. This process involves capturing the details of the document or image through optical sensors and converting it into a digital format that can be stored, edited, or shared on a computer. For instance, when you place a photo or a piece of paper on a scanner, it translates the visual information into a digital file, which can be saved in various formats such as JPEG, PNG, or PDF.

While printing digital images is a function of a printer, scanners are specifically designed for inputting data, not outputting it. Managing user access for print jobs is typically a feature associated with print servers or printer management software, not scanners. Providing a digital method for faxing documents would pertain more to multifunction devices that combine scanning, printing, and faxing capabilities, rather than the core functionality of a scanner itself. Thus, the primary role of the scanner in the context of the question aligns directly with creating computer files from real-life objects.