"Firmware can be thought of as the permanent instructions an electronic device needs to start up and begin operating. Another key component of most electronic devices is a central processing unit, or CPU, which is the brain of the device. These two components communicate using computer code over an electronic circuit for the device to function properly. When the device powers up, the CPU sends a message to the firmware asking for its initial instructions. It then executes those instructions, which begins the operation of the device and sets up the parameters the device will use to function."
