BIOS

What is BIOS?

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is a firmware (a type of software that is embedded in a hardware device) that is responsible for booting up a computer system and initializing hardware components such as the hard drive, keyboard, and display screen.

When a computer is turned on, the BIOS performs a power-on self-test (POST) to check if all the hardware components are working properly. If the POST is successful, the BIOS then loads the operating system (such as Windows, Linux, or macOS) from the computer's hard drive into memory, allowing the user to interact with the computer. The BIOS is also responsible for managing system settings, such as the date and time, boot order, and password protection. These settings can be accessed and changed by entering the BIOS setup utility, which is usually accessed by pressing a key (such as F2 or Del) during the boot process.