Microcode is a set of instructions stored on read-only memory chips used by hardware to handle machine instructions and assist the CPU in operations. It can be updated through firmware and allows for backwards compatibility and emulation.
Microcode is a set of instructions that are not accessible by the program. Instructions are typically written on read-only memory chips used by hardware for specific instructions. A video card or other add-in card used in a computer may contain such code to help it complete its tasks.
Many microprocessors use microcode to handle machine instructions and assist the chips or CPU in operations. Updates to this code may be contained in the firmware, which replaces the existing code. Because it’s not accessible while the hardware is running, there’s usually a specific way new code should be loaded, depending on the device.
Some routers or hardware firewalls store their operating systems in EPROMs and do not have hard drives to store programming. The configurations for these devices are stored in both read-only memory, so the device can lose power without losing the configuration, and random access memory, where the configuration is stored while the device is operating. Updates to the operating system software of these devices are examples of microcode stored on EPROM chips that must be handled in a certain way to be applied correctly.
Microcode software can adapt to the condition of the chips it exists on better than things written into the chip’s circuitry. This helps developers and others working with hardware keep the chip up to date without having to constantly release a new board with different circuitry. Using such a code can save both the consumer and the seller money in the long run.
Chip makers can also maintain backwards compatibility from chip to chip because microcode can be designed to allow newer hardware to add new instructions when they become available. When a CPU detects other hardware installations, some code may be found that can help the CPU and the new card interact better within the system. The code may also allow for emulations, which might be similar to something an application might use within an operating system. For example, in the same way that an older copy of an application can run in compatibility mode in Windows®, hardware configurations can be emulated through code to allow older versions of hardware to work together or instead of their counterparts latest.
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