Hardware, software, and firmware are major components of the computers and other electronic devices that we use today. The internal workings of electronic devices such as computers are based on these components.
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is used during the booting process when a computer or other electronic device is turned on. It is the first software that gets run when power is turned on. Distinctions must be made between hardware, software, and firmware to understand better what category BIOS falls under.
What are Hardware, Software, and Firmware?
Hardware is any physical component of a computer system. This includes the circuit board, central processing unit, and graphics card.
Software is the set of programs, procedures, and routines used in the operation of a computer. The two main types of software include system software and application software. Through the operating system, system software controls hardware peripherals. Application software tells the computer to execute commands given by the user. It may also process data.
Software is typically found on long-memory devices. These types of devices include magnetic disks and hard drives. The computer reads the program from the storage and puts it in the random access memory (RAM) for a temporary period of time.
Firmware is permanent software programmed into read-only memory. It is composed of persistent memory, program code, and data. It provides the instructions needed to show the device how to communicate with other hardware. Firmware is typically found in the flash ROM of a device. Flash ROM can be erased and rewritten as it is a type of flash memory.
Firmware is designed to serve as an intermediary between software and hardware or for the operation of systems such as printers or routers. Examples of devices that contain firmware include computers and mobile phones. The firmware in such devices provides a control program for them.
The Differences Between Software, Firmware, or Hardware
Unlike software and firmware, hardware is purely physical. In contrast, the software is the set of digital instructions used to operate the computer hardware. Firmware sits between the software and hardware.
Firmware is written in a language, also known as microcode. Firmware code is different from the assembly language of a microcomputer. It is a lower-level language than the computer's assembly language code. Firmware generally supports each computer assembly language program that runs on the processor of the firmware when executed by the Central Processing Unit (CPU).
While the system software must be aware of the BIOS, it does not include it as part of the system specification. Unlike other types of software, firmware requires either a swap of chips or for the reload of flash memory.
Evolution of Hardware Initialization
BIOS continues to be used in different computer systems despite the evolving needs of users. As a type of system firmware, BIOS provides the interface between the hardware and software in different key processes, including the startup process and data flows.