Facsimile
From Latin “fac simile”, “make similar”, i.e. “make a copy” – or telefacsimile) is a telecommunications technology used to transfer copies (facsimiles) of documents, especially using affordable devices operating over the telephone network.
A fax machine is essentially an image scanner, a modem, and a computer printer combined into a highly specialized package.
The scanner converts the content of a physical document into a digital image, the modem sends the image data over a phone line, and the printer at the other end makes a duplicate of the original document.