Date First Published: 2nd December 2023
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 4/10
Learn about what firmware is in this article.
Firmware is a type of software embedded in the ROM that contains the programming needed to boot a device and the instructions it needs to operate and communicate with other hardware. Firmware is semi-permanent since it remains the same until modified by a firmware updater and cannot be changed or deleted by users without special programs.
Firmware is used by a wide range of devices, including personal computers, storage devices, mobile devices, and smart cards. For example, the firmware of a personal computer (BIOS) comes embedded on a small memory chip in the motherboard. USB flash drives and hard drives also contain basic firmware that enables them to function with a computer.
As suggested in the term, firmware is designed to be "firm", meaning that it is embedded into hardware and not intended to be easily changed or modified. Compared to traditional software, it is more firm or fixed.
Firmware updates are often released to fix bugs and vulnerabilities, improve security, improve performance add new features, and interact with new media. They consist of code that instructs the hardware to behave in a new or modified way. For example, a motherboard manufacturer may release a BIOS update that enables the motherboard to support new processors. Sometimes, third-party websites create firmware updates to give a device even more capabilities than the manufacturer intended, but third-party updates are not usually supported by the manufacturer.
Firmware updates can be automatically downloaded and installed using internet-connected devices and other device manufacturers require users to visit the manufacturer's website to manually download and install firmware updates. The frequency of firmware updates varies, depending on the device. The process of updating firmware by downloading upgrades from the firmware updater is referred to as firmware over the air (OTA).
When starting a firmware update, it is always important to ensure that the device has enough battery power and finishes before the device is powered off. If a firmware update is interrupted or the device loses power in the middle of a firmware update, the device may become bricked and unusable. Partial firmware updates leave the firmware corrupted, which can seriously damage how the device works.
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