🖨️ PrintBridge

A PrintBridge is required because browsers (and WebAssembly apps) cannot directly access printers for security reasons. The PrintBridge acts as the trusted middleman between the web app and your printer. To address this problem we have created a service that handles all printer communication.

Why a PrintBridge Is Needed for a WASM Website

When you open a normal website in your browser, the website is isolated for security reasons. This means the website is not allowed to directly talk to your computer’s hardware, like printers, scanners, or USB devices. Otherwise, any website you visit could secretly use your printer or steal information from your devices.

A WASM (WebAssembly) website is no different. Even though it feels like a powerful desktop program running inside the browser, it still runs inside that “security sandbox.” The sandbox protects your computer, but it also blocks the website from directly printing labels on your local printer.

And this is where the PrintBridge comes in.

• The PrintBridge is a small helper program that you install on your computer.
• It sits outside the browser and has permission to talk to your printer.
• The WASM website sends a secure message to the PrintBridge.
• The PrintBridge takes that message and forwards it to your printer, so the label, receipt, or document comes out exactly as intended.

In short:

• Without the PrintBridge: the website has no safe way to print directly.
• With the PrintBridge: the website can still offer seamless printing, but without breaking the browser’s security rules.