firmware - Definitions, Origins, Firmware and device drivers, Examples

A concept intermediate between software and hardware, used to describe devices which combine elements of each. A computer program stored in an unalterable form in an integrated circuit such as a read-only memory could be described as firmware, while the same program written on paper or stored on a floppy disk, both of which can be altered, could be described as software.

In computing, firmware is software that is embedded in a hardware device.

Definitions

Firmware is defined as:

the computer program in a read-only memory (ROM) integrated circuit (a hardware part number or other configuration identifier is usually used to represent the software); The most popular form of firmware then, without any need for battery supports, are the "Flash Disks", which are usually inserted into various digital devices and used for storage..

Origins

The term "firmware" was originally coined to indicate a functional replacement for hardware on low cost microprocessors.

Note that firmware for many devices can now be updated without the need for additional hardware, often through the use of vendor-provided software.

In practical terms, firmware updates can improve the performance and reliability, indeed even the basic available functionality of a device, and many devices benefit from regular firmware updates. One of the most common devices to have regular firmware updates are recording devices such as optical media writers (DVD, CD, Bluray), as media technologies extend, so firmware updates ensure hardware is kept up to date and compatible.

Firmware and device drivers

Most devices attached to modern systems are special-purpose computers in their own right, running their own software. As a result, much current hardware is unable to function in any useful way until the host computer has fed it the requisite firmware. This firmware load is handled by the device driver.

Examples

Examples of firmware include:

The BIOS found in IBM-compatible Personal Computers; The operating system on a router, such as the Linksys WRT54G Open Firmware, used in computers from Sun Microsystems and Apple Computer;