What does "BIOS" stand for?

"BIOS" stands for Basic Input-Output System. This term refers to the firmware embedded on a computer's motherboard that initializes and tests the system hardware components during the boot process before handing control over to the operating system. The BIOS is essential for starting the computer and for loading the operating system from a storage device. It provides the necessary instructions for communication between the operating system and the hardware components like the keyboard, monitor, and storage devices.

Understanding the role of BIOS is critical for troubleshooting hardware issues or performing system upgrades, as it lays the foundation for how software interacts with the hardware.