The term "hard copy" refers to a physical printed version of a document or image, as opposed to a digital or electronic version that exists only on a computer or digital device. Hard copies are tangible and can be easily read, annotated, and shared in a non-digital format.
The term "hard copy" emerged in the 1960s, originating from the use of "hard" to describe something physical or solid, as opposed to the intangible nature of digital or "soft" copies.