Device Drivers: Their Function in an Operating System

A device driver is a program routine that links a peripheral device to an operating system of a computer. It is essentially a software program that allows a user to employ a device, such as a printer, monitor, or mouse (Levenson & Hertz, 1994). It is written by programmers who comprehend the detailed knowledge of the device’s command language and characteristics and contains the specific machine language necessary to perform the functions requested by the application (The Computer Language Company, 2000). When a new hardware device is added to the computer, such as a CD-ROM drive, a printer, or a sound card, its driver must be installed in order to run it. The operating system “calls ” the driver, and the driver “drives ” the device. In Windows, for example, everything that is seen on the screen is the result of the display driver (video driver). The display driver effectuates the visual appearance of the screen according to the precise commands that Windows issues to it (The Computer Language Company, 2000). The driver is the link between the operating system and the peripheral device. If the peripheral device is changed, or if a bug is found in the driver, the driver must also be changed. A new version of the driver is then written and released by the manufacturer of the device. Updated drivers are usually made available on the Web sites and/or bulletin boards of vendors