A device driver is a software program that enables a specific hardware device to communicate with the operating system (OS) of a computer.
When a new hardware device is installed in a computer, the OS typically doesn't have the necessary information to communicate with the device. This is where device drivers come in - they provide the OS with the information it needs to communicate with the device, including instructions on how to use the device and how to access its functions.
Device drivers are specific to each type of hardware device and are usually developed by the manufacturer of the device. The driver software typically needs to be installed on the computer before the device can be used.
