Thermal printer creates images using heat instead of ink or toner, and it's commonly used for receipts, barcodes, and labels. There are two main types: direct thermal, which uses heat-sensitive paper, and thermal transfer, which uses a heated ribbon to transfer ink onto the media. Thermal printers are known for being fast, low-maintenance, and reliable, with portable models available, but they often produce black and white prints and the direct thermal type can fade over time.