Firmware - The software that is embedded onto a piece of hardware in order to control that hardware. Generally, firmware can be upgraded and is placed on an EEPROM. Sometimes if a new driver for a piece of hardware is released, new firmware will also be released that is required to get the full functionality or performance of the driver. In other cases, firmware will have some bugs or undesirable features, and can be upgraded to work out the problems. Of course, the rest of the hardware cannot be upgraded without replacing pieces of it, so manufacturers try to store as many critical function controls as they can in the firmware in case they need to change them. For them, if a bug is found it is the difference between recalling a product and simply telling their affected customers to upgrade the firmware