What is the firmware

Most likely, many of you have already heard such a word as "firmware". But what is the firmware in its understanding? And why is it even necessary? This is what we have to discuss.

If to say in general, the firmware is a special information that is "sewn up" (if you say it is understandable - it is written down) into the device's memory chip by the programmer. In other words, it turns out that firmware is nothing more than software, that is, the operating system of a device.

This as for the general meaning, but this concept has a deep history of appearance. It is she who will be able to describe in more detail what the firmware is and for what it is intended.

The thing is that at the time of the birth and appearance of the first computers, they were quite bulky. Sometimes some specimens could occupy the whole room. And for these devices built-in or permanent memory was made, but in a rather original way.

The internal components of these devices were collected from separate cells, where each of them consisted of a ring of small size. The rings themselves were made of special material, namely from ferrite. It is quite light in the process of magnetization.

In each such ring it was necessary to pass two loops of wire. These wires were intended for recording, erasing and reading all the necessary information. But still, what is the firmware, and where is the whole system? Do not make hasty conclusions, we go further.

In one such position, only one bit of the built-in memory could be stored, that is, 0 - in the event that the ring is demagnetized and 1 when magnetized. And you probably understand that to provide the device with enough memory, that is, at least one gigabyte, it was necessary to make more than one such position of the ring with the loops of wires. And if to tell or say precisely, 8 589 934 592 pieces.

Thus, all the internal components of this device were as if stitched together in order to have sufficient resources for work. After what has been said, it probably already becomes a little understandable what the firmware is, but one should also talk about modern devices.

All kinds of tablets and smartphones, in principle, like any modern computer, work on the basis of operating system management. It is she who is fully responsible for how this or that device will work. And if you put it differently, then any of the listed devices without an operating system will be meaningless, since without it - it's a set of unnecessary iron.

All the components of any computer can be defined as the brain, but the operating system will be the consciousness of this brain, that is, one that can control the entire computer. So, you can make an unambiguous conclusion that the procedure for installing any operating system on a smartphone, tablet or other device, excluding a computer, and called the firmware. And if to say even easier, the definition of "change firmware" is absolutely identical in meaning to the definition "reinstall Windows" or another operating system on any personal or portable computer.

I want to believe that you understand what a firmware is. But that's not all. The fact is that in order to flash a modern device, you need special programs for firmware. And, in addition, the "firmware" is also called the file itself, which is downloaded to the device to install or reinstall the operating system. The files for different devices are also different. And that's why each device needs its own program and its file.

All firmware are divided into two types:

1. Official, that is, one that is produced by the manufacturer of a device.
2. Unofficial or alternative, it is also called "custom".

Of course, it is better to always choose the first option. But it happens that there is no choice, and then you have to resort for help to unofficial or alternative firmware. Here, in principle, you can already complete the topic, but if you do not know what a PSP or PC firmware is , it's worth to assure you that they are identical in meaning to other types of work, their difference is only in purpose.