Field-programmability: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:36, 13 September 2022

Revision as of 16:35, 17 August 2023

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{{References|date=September 2022}}<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Netgear mr814v2 upgrade screen.png|thumb|right|The [[Netgear]] MR814 [[wi-fi|wireless]] [[home gateway]] can be '''field-programmed''' from a web interface; its firmware consists of [[eCos]] operating system images stored in NAND flash.]] -->

An [[Electronics|electronic]] device or [[embedded system]] is said to be '''field-programmable''' or '''in-place programmable''' if its [[firmware]] (stored in [[non-volatile memory]], such as [[Read-only memory|ROM]]) can be modified "in the field,", without disassembling the device or returning it to its manufacturer.

This is often an extremely desirable feature, as it can reduce the cost and turnaround time for replacement of [[computer bug|buggy]] or obsolete firmware. For example, a [[digital camera]] vendor could distribute firmware supporting a new image [[file format]] by instructing consumers to [[download]] a new firmware [[ROM image|image]] to the camera via a [[USB]] cable.