IPA IP 2022 Question 3
A question IPA Japan published in 令和4年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問3, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Same question on ITPEC: Oct 2023 Q91
Which of the following is software for performing basic control of hardware mounted on a gaming console, household appliances, etc.?
Explanation
Firmware — software built into a device to perform the basic control of its hardware.
Firmware is stored in ROM or flash memory inside the device, such as a game console, a washing machine or a router, and runs when the device starts. It controls the hardware directly, and because it is tied so closely to the device it sits between hardware and ordinary software, hence the name. It can often be updated to fix faults or add functions.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) Groupware — software for group work, such as e-mail, schedule sharing and conferencing; it supports people, not hardware
- •(b) Shareware — software that may be tried free and is paid for if kept in use; the name describes distribution, not a function
- •(d) Middleware — software between the OS and applications that supplies common functions, such as a DBMS
Key rule: Firmware is named by where it lives, inside the device and next to the hardware it controls; middleware sits between the OS and applications.
Software · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.