Device Driver

What is Device Driver?

A device driver is software that allows the operating system to communicate with and control a particular hardware device, translating general operating-system instructions into the specific signals that device understands.

This definition is part of the Software chapter in Cambridge O Level Computer Science.

Concepts related to Device Driver

• peripheral
• Operating System
• System Software
• Interrupt

Common mistakes with Device Driver

• 2. Defining application software as "software the user installs". Why it fails A user can install anti-malware, a compression tool or a device driver — all system software. A manufacturer can pre-install a browser and a media player — both application software. Who installed it is irrelevant. Fix Ask what the software is for. Services the computer requires, or services the user requires? See section 4.1 C.
• "Applications control the hardware directly." Correct model Applications request resources from the operating system, which controls the hardware using device drivers. Direct hardware access without system-software mediation is not how the stack works.
• M2. "All system software is an operating system." Why it fails It ignores the second half of the category. Backup software, anti-malware, compression tools, storage-management tools, encryption utilities and device drivers are all system software and none of them is an operating system. Corrected model System software has two parts: the operating system and utility software. Every operating system is system software; not all system software is an operating system. Exam-safe sentence "System software includes the operating system and utility software such as backup, anti-malware, compression, storage-management and encryption programs." Show the retrieval checkHide the check Check: Name three pieces of system software that are not operating systems.Answer: Any three of: backup software, anti-malware, compression tools, storage-management tools, encryption utilities, device drivers.
• M6. "A device driver is a physical connector." Why it fails A cable, a port and a plug are hardware. A driver is a program, and the usual symptom of a missing one is a device that is physically connected and still not recognised. Corrected model A device driver is software that allows the operating system to communicate with and control a particular hardware device, translating general instructions into the signals that device understands. Exam-safe sentence "A device driver is software that allows the operating system to communicate with and control a particular hardware device." Show the retrieval checkHide the check Check: A device is plugged in, powered on and not recognised. What is most likely missing, and what kind of thing is it?Answer: The device driver — and it is software, not a cable or connector.