OS & Hardware

What is the role of a device driver?

  1. AHandling device-specific operations behind a common interface
  2. BDesigning the device's circuits and producing manufacturing data
  3. CChanging the look of application screens to suit user preferences
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Answer: A. Handling device-specific operations behind a common interface

Each device has its own register layout and operating procedure. A device driver is the OS component that absorbs these differences: it initializes the device, reads and writes registers, sets up DMA and handles interrupts, while offering upper layers a common interface such as file-style reads and writes. Applications can then use devices without knowing their details. Circuit design and screen appearance are not a driver's job.

  • A. Correct. It absorbs device differences and offers a common interface.
  • B. Circuit design is the job of hardware design.
  • C. Screen appearance is an application setting.
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