The '''Common Flash'''memoryMemory '''Interface''' ('''CFI''') is an open standard jointly developed by [[AMD]], [[Intel]], [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]] and [[Fujitsu]]. (AMD has since sold its flash memory products division to Spansion.) It is an open standard, which means it is freely implementable by all [[flash memory]] vendors, and has been approved by the non-volatile-memory subcommittee of [[JEDEC]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jedec.org/download/search/jesd68-01.pdf |archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20090306191719/http://www.jedec.org/download/search/jesd68-01.pdf |archivedate=6 March 2009 |title=JEDEC Standard: Common Flash Interface |publisher=JEDEC|date=September 2003}}</ref> The ideagoal behind wasof the interchangeabilityspecification ofis currentthe andinterchangeability futureof flash memory devices offered by different vendors. The developer is able to use one driver for different flash products by reading identifying information out offrom the flash chip itself.
Each flash memory device contains the following information: memory size, byte and word configuration, block configuration, and voltage and timing data.
That information contains:
* Memory size
* Byte and word configuration
* Block configuration
* Voltages and timings
The specification provides several benefits. No or very little information about flash devices has to be stored in tables within system software. It is possible to use lower cost flash memory devices as they become available without rewriting system software. Adapting current software systems shall be done more easily and quickly than previously.
Benefits of this concept are:
* Basically no or little information about flash device has to be stored in tables within system software
* Possible to use lower cost flash memory devices as they become available, without rewriting code
* Adapting current software systems shall be done more easily and quickly than before
