In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer. A driver typically communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects. When a calling program invokes a routine in the driver, the driver issues commands to the device. Once the device sends data back to the driver, the driver may invoke routines in the original calling program. Drivers are hardware-dependent and operating-system-specific. They usually provide the interrupt handling required for any necessary asynchronous time-dependent hardware interface.
Read more about Device Driver: Purpose, Development, Kernel-mode Vs User-mode, Applications, Virtual Device Drivers, Open Drivers, APIs, Identifiers
Famous quotes containing the words device and/or driver:
“It is my hope to be able to prove that television is the greatest step forward we have yet made in the preservation of humanity. It will make of this Earth the paradise we have all envisioned, but have never seen.”
—Joseph O’Donnell. Clifford Sanforth. Professor James Houghland, Murder by Television, just before he demonstrates his new television device (1935)
“God help the horse, and the driver too!
And the people and beasts who have never a friend!
For the driver easily might have been you,
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—James Kenneth Stephens (1882–1950)