AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is firmware?
Firmware: Low-level software stored permanently on a hardware device that controls how it starts and operates. It sits between the hardware and higher-level software, and is updated less often than ordinary programs.
Firmware: an example
A router's firmware update can add features or fix security problems in the device.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
- Floating-point number
- Garbage collection
- Global interpreter lock
- Graphical user interface
- Graphics processing unit
- Half-precision floating point
- Hard disk drive
- Hard link
Where you learn it
Firmware is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.