softcopy

Softcopy refers to digital information displayed on a screen rather than printed on paper.

The term emerged alongside personal computing to distinguish electronic documents, images, and data from their physical counterparts.

I'll send you a softcopy of the report by email.

While hardcopy requires paper and ink, softcopy exists only as electronic files that can be viewed, edited, and shared digitally.

The term has become less common as digital documents have become the default.