Software vs. Firmware — What's the Difference?

Software is a collection of instructions and data that tell a computer how to work. This is in contrast to physical hardware, from which the system is built and actually performs the work.

In computing, firmware is a specific class of computer software that provides the low-level control for a device's specific hardware. Firmware, such as the BIOS of a personal computer, may contain only elementary basic functions of a device and may only provide services to higher-level software.

The programs, routines, and symbolic languages that control the functioning of the hardware and direct its operation.

Software stored in a computer's ROM.

(computing) Encoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM).

(computing) Something in between hardware and software. Like software, it is created from source code, but it is closely tied to the hardware it runs on.

(military) The human beings involved in warfare, as opposed to hardware such as weapons and vehicles.

Software intended for such embedded computer applications.

(computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory;

(computer science) coded instructions that are stored permanently in read-only memory