firmware
Sign in to savethumb|right|Firmware is commonly stored in an EEPROM or Flash memory, which makes use of an I/O protocol such as SPI.
AI overview
Firmware is low-level software that's permanently stored in a device's memory (like EEPROM or Flash memory) and controls how the hardware actually works. It matters because devices need this built-in software to function, and it can usually be updated through standard communication methods like SPI protocols.
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Article
12 sectionsContents
- History and etymology
- Applications
- Computers
- Home and personal-use products
- Automobiles
- Other examples
- Flashing
- Firmware hacking
- HDD firmware hacks
- Security risks
- See also
- References
thumb|right|Firmware is commonly stored in an EEPROM or Flash memory, which makes use of an I/O protocol such as SPI.
In computing, firmware is software that provides low-level control of computing device hardware. For a relatively simple device, firmware may perform all control, monitoring and data manipulation functionality. For a more complex device, firmware may provide relatively low-level control as well as hardware abstraction services to higher-level software such as an operating system.