# Device driver  ## Metadata - Author: [[wikipedia.org]] - Full Title: Device driver - Category: #articles - Summary: A device driver is software that allows the operating system to communicate with hardware devices. Each driver is specific to the hardware and the operating system it runs on. Writing drivers requires a deep understanding of both hardware and software. - URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Device_driver ## Highlights - n the context of an [operating system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system), a **device driver** is a [computer program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_program) that operates or controls a particular type of [device](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral) that is attached to a [computer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jwm98xncfh2k407ty02jm1nq)) - A driver provides a software [interface](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interface_(computing)) to [hardware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware) devices, enabling [operating systems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system) and other computer programs to access hardware functions without needing to know precise details about the hardware being used. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jwm994hkm8wyy0eswqvdfexc)) - The main purpose of device drivers is to provide abstraction by acting as a translator between a hardware device and the applications or [operating systems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system) that use it.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Device_driver/#cite_note-dev1-1) Programmers can write higher-level application code independently of whatever specific hardware the end-user is using. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jwm99h9mtyqss665gsf4nh8n))