# Firmware
> Firmware is low-level software that helps hardware know how to behave.
Topics: Computing, Smartphones
Difficulty: Getting technical
Aliases: device firmware
Updated: 2026-06-26T08:00:00.000Z
## Go deeper
Firmware is low-level software that helps hardware know how to behave. In everyday buying decisions, the useful question is not just what the spec says, but what it changes for comfort, cost, speed, safety, or battery life.