当一个人刚进入计算机领域时，有很多新词汇需要学习，有时会让人有点困惑。以BIOS和固件为例，它们的意思是相同的还是不同的？今天的超级用户问答旨在帮助一位困惑的读者理解术语。

今天的问答环节是由SuperUser提供的，SuperUser是Stack Exchange的一个分支，是一个由社区驱动的问答网站分组。

照片由约翰C布拉斯（Flickr）提供。

问题

超级用户读者Koray Tugay想知道BIOS和固件之间的区别：

Could anyone elaborate on what the difference between BIOS and Firmware is please?

BIOS和固件有什么区别？

答案

超级用户贡献者马拉喀什那斯拉瓦和托尼为我们提供了答案。首先，马拉喀什那斯拉瓦：

BIOS is Firmware for computers. As you continue to read and learn about computers, you will gain understanding about BIOS, UEFI, EFI, and so on.

BIOS is an acronym for Basic Input/Output System and also known as System BIOS, ROM BIOS, or PC BIOS. It is a type of Firmware used during the booting process (power-on/start up) on IBM PC compatible computers. BIOS Firmware is built into PCs, and it is the first software they run when powered on. The name itself originates from the Basic Input/Output System used in the CP/M operating system in 1975.

Firmware is a combination of persistent memory, program code, and the data stored in it. Typical examples of devices containing Firmware are embedded systems such as traffic lights, c***umer appliances, digital watches, computers, computer peripherals, mobile phones, and digital cameras. The Firmware contained in these devices provides the control program for the device.

接着是托尼的回答：

As others have already stated, BIOS is the specific name for the motherboard Firmware in older PCs. New computers these days have a technically and somewhat different kind of Firmware called UEFI or EFI.

Please note that any computer will also contain other Firmware (besides BIOS/UEFI/EFI). Network cards, video cards, raid controllers, hard-drives, flash drives, SSDs, and sound cards (just to name a few) can all have Firmware embedded inside.

Weirdly enough, the Firmware for video cards is often called video BIOS. This is technically incorrect. BIOS is only appropriate for referring to the start up Firmware of the motherboard itself.

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