| Name | Basic Input Output System (BIOS) |
| Function | It is a pre-installed program used to start the computer. BIOS prepares the computer so other software applications can load, execute and control the PC. |
| Stored in | Stored in ROM (Read-Only Memory) chip on the motherboard. This ensures that the BIOS is always available when needed. |
| First Executed Software | BIOS is the first software to run when a computer is powered on, also known as ‘boot firmware’. |
| Hardware Initialization | Responsible for initializing or testing hardware components at startup like hard disk, floppy drive, optical drive, graphics card etc. |
| Booting Sequence Control | Controls the sequence of booting the Operating System (OS) from different devices like floppy disk, hard drive etc. |
| Interface between OS & Hardware | BIOS provides a consistent way for application programs and OS to interact with the keyboard, display, and other input/output devices. |
| Updating/Flashing BIOS | BIOS can be updated or ‘flashed’ to fix bugs, add new features, or to support new hardware, although this should be done carefully to prevent bricking the machine. |
| Accessing BIOS Setup | Setup of BIOS can be accessed by pressing a specific key (like F2, F10, Del) at startup, which is hardware specific. |
