Firmware

From Free net encyclopedia

Revision as of 05:11, 16 April 2006; view current revision
←Older revision | Newer revision→

In computing, firmware is software that is embedded in a hardware device. It is often provided on flash ROMs or as a binary image file that can be uploaded onto existing hardware by a user.

Contents

Definitions

Firmware is defined as:

Source: Federal Standard 1037C.

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.

Examples

Examples of firmware include:


Open Firmware is notable for being written in the Forth programming language.

External links

de:Firmware es:Firmware fr:Firmware gl:Firmware ko:펌웨어 it:Firmware he:קושחה hu:Firmware nl:Firmware nds:Firmware ja:ファームウェア pl:Oprogramowanie wbudowane w urządzenie pt:Firmware fi:Firmware sv:Firmware th:เฟิร์มแวร์ zh:韌體