The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a modern firmware interface that serves as the successor to the traditional Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) found in most personal computers and server systems. It provides a standardized software interface between the operating system and the platform firmware, offering enhanced system startup and configuration capabilities.
Unlike BIOS, which is based on 16-bit code and limits the amount of available system memory, UEFI supports 32-bit and 64-bit architectures, enabling the system to utilize larger amounts of RAM. It also includes a number of advanced features that improve the boot experience, such as faster startup times, secure booting, and support for larger disk drives with GUID Partition Table (GPT) format.
UEFI firmware is designed to be platform-independent, allowing it to be easily ported across various hardware architectures. It provides a modular structure, allowing manufacturers to add their own custom features and device-specific initialization routines through various independent modules called drivers, protocols, and services. This modularity ensures that UEFI implementations can be easily updated and upgraded.
Furthermore, UEFI is compatible with a wider range of operating systems and can run on a variety of devices, including desktops, laptops, servers, tablets, and embedded systems. It offers an extended set of pre-boot applications known as "firmware applications" or "UEFI applications," enabling users to perform tasks such as system diagnostics, firmware updates, and network booting.
Overall, UEFI represents a more flexible and modern firmware interface that enhances system performance, security, and compatibility, providing a foundation for the latest generation of computing systems.
