Xerography is a dry photocopying process that uses electrostatic charges to transfer images onto paper. Developed by Chester Carlson in the 1930s, it involves creating a latent image on a photoconductive surface, which is then developed using toner and transferred to paper. This method is widely used in copiers and laser printers. The process begins with a light source scanning the original document, which creates an electrostatic image on a drum or belt. Toner, a fine powder, adheres to the charged areas, and heat is applied to fuse the toner onto the paper, producing a permanent copy.