Fax is one of the many forms of telecommunications technologies in widespread use today. You can find a fax machine in almost every office anywhere in the world. The word "fax" is short for facsimile, which is Latin for "make a copy." Fax technology basically works by transmitting copies of documents through a telephone network using a device called a fax machine. In simple terms, a fax machine works as if you sent pieces of paper documents to a receiving end almost instantaneously.

A fax machine is basically a scanner, modem and computer printer all rolled into one. The fax process begins with scanning the graphical images from the document inputted into the fax machine. As the sender feeds paper documents into the machine, a sensor scans the document for the white and black spots that comprise it. This data is then encoded so that it can be transmitted through a phone line. At the receiver's end, the fax machine's mechanism marks the heat-sensitive paper with a reproduction of the original document sent.

Fax machines are indispensable office equipment. Today's fax machines have evolved from simply sending documents to and from, to integrating various functions all into one device. Some fax machines also feature advanced handset functions and can work as the chief phone of a small office.

Multiple functions are also common to many modern fax machines. For instance, a fax machine can also work as a copier, a scanner and a printer. These multi-use fax machines virtually eliminate all other electronic machines and offer their functions all in one package. At present, even though various innovative telecommunication technologies have been introduced, fax machines continue to be an integral part of office equipment. Also, fax machines and fax services continue to evolve to better serve the needs of today's users.