firmware
- 01 C1 Advanced
software that is permanently stored on a hardware device to tell it how to function.
a category of software programmed into a hardware device's non-volatile memory, providing the necessary instructions for how the device communicates with other computer hardware.
Simple“You might need to update the firmware on your router to fix the connection issues.”
In context“The manufacturer released a critical firmware update to patch a vulnerability in the solid-state drive's controller logic.”
UsageUncountable in general use, though 'firmwares' may appear in technical contexts when referring to multiple distinct versions or types.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'software' or 'drivers'; explain that firmware lives 'inside' the hardware and is more permanent than a standard app.
Synonymsmicrocodeembedded software
“Now, all versions of the Framework Laptop 13 board, going all the way back to the original 11th-generation Intel Core board, already have updated firmware with the new hardware support locked and loaded.”
From firm + -ware, coined in an article in 1967 as an intermediary term between hardware and software.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.