Driver
A driver is a special type of software that allows the operating system to communicate with hardware devices.
Without drivers, the system would not know how to control devices like a keyboard, printer, graphics card, or Wi-Fi adapter.
How it works
The operating system sends commands to the driver. The driver translates these commands into instructions that the hardware understands. It also sends information back from the hardware to the operating system.
In simple terms:
Operating System → Driver → Hardware
Hardware → Driver → Operating System
Drivers act as translators between software and physical components.
Where drivers operate
Most drivers work closely with the Kernel because they need low-level access to hardware.
There are two main types:
Kernel-mode drivers – run with high privileges and direct hardware access
- User-mode drivers – run with limited permissions and higher safety
Why it is important
- Enables hardware functionality
- Ensures system stability
- Improves performance
- Allows compatibility between devices and operating systems
Without the correct driver, a device may not work properly — or may not work at all.
Plug and Play
Modern operating systems support Plug and Play.
This means the system can automatically detect new hardware and install the correct driver.
Examples of drivers
- Graphics card driver
- Audio driver
- Network driver
- Printer driver
Each device usually requires its own specific driver.
Driver updates
Manufacturers release driver updates to:
- Fix bugs
- Improve performance
- Add new features
- Improve security
Keeping drivers updated helps maintain system reliability.
A simple example
When you press a key on your keyboard, the keyboard driver tells the operating system which key was pressed and sends that information to the active program.
Related terms
- What is Kernel?
- What is Hardware?
- What is Operating System?
Source
Information simplified from the Wikipedia article “Device driver”.