3 definitions found
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
firmware
n : (computer science) coded instructions that are stored
permanently in read-only memory
From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]:
firmware /ferm'weir/ n. Embedded software contained in EPROM
or flash memory. It isn't quite hardware, but at least doesn't have to
be loaded from a disk like regular software. Hacker usage differs from
straight techspeak in that hackers don't normally apply it to stuff
that you can't possibly get at such as the program that runs a pocket
calculator. Instead, it implies that the firmware could be changed,
even if doing so would mean opening a box and plugging in a new chip. A
computer's BIOS is the classic example, although nowadays there is
firmware in disk controllers, modems, video cards and even CD-ROM drives.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]:
Firmware
Software stored in read-only memory (ROM) or programmable ROM
(PROM). Easier to change than hardware but harder than
software stored on disk. Firmware is often responsible for
the behaviour of a system when it is first switched on A
typical example would be a monitor" program in a
microcomputer which loads the full operating system from disk
or from a network and then passes control to it
more about firmware
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