Difference between Firmware and Middleware?
Firmware vs Middleware
Let’s look at differences between Firmware and middleware in this tutorial. Firmware is low-level software embedded in hardware to control its functions. It operates directly with hardware components. Middleware is software that facilitates communication and data management between different applications or systems.
Differences
| Firmware | Middleware | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Embedded software directly controlling hardware. | Software that bridges communication between systems. |
| Purpose | To provide essential control over hardware functionality. | To enable interaction and integration between software applications. |
| Level of Operation | Low-level, hardware-specific. | High-level, application or system-specific. |
| Dependency | Required for hardware to operate. | Required for interoperability between applications. |
| Examples | BIOS, embedded software in printers and routers. | Message queues, database middleware, APIs. |
| Modifiability | Rarely updated; requires specialized tools for updates. | Can be modified or updated as per system needs. |