A fax machine is a device that allows you to send and receive documents electronically over a telephone line. It converts printed documents into electronic signals that can be transmitted and received by another fax machine. The transmissions it sends are called "faxes," and these can be between two fax machines, or between a fax machine and computer or online fax service that is equipped to send and receive faxes. A fax machine consists of a scanner, a printer, and a phone line working in unison. When you insert the document into the device, the scanner interprets it as a digital signal to be transmitted over the phone. A processor in the sending machine converts the signal into bits. The receiving machine then decodes the bits and prints out a copy of the original document.
Fax machines were widely used in offices in the 1980s and 1990s, but have gradually been rendered obsolete by Internet-based technologies such as email and the World Wide Web. However, they remain particularly popular in medical administration and law enforcement. Fax machines are still used in some industries because they offer certain advantages. For example, they provide a physical copy of the document, which can be useful for legal purposes. Faxing is also considered a more secure method of document transmission compared to email, as faxes are less susceptible to hacking or interception. Nowadays, there are online fax services that allow you to send and receive faxes through the internet. These services often provide a virtual fax number, and you can send faxes by uploading digital documents or using email.
