UEFI stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. It is a replacement for the traditional BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) that is used to initialize and boot computer hardware. UEFI is designed to be more flexible and extensible than BIOS, allowing it to support new technologies and operating systems.
UEFI provides a number of advantages over BIOS, including faster boot times, support for larger hard drives, better security features, and a more modern interface. UEFI also provides support for network booting, which allows a computer to boot from a network server instead of a local hard drive.
One of the key features of UEFI is its ability to run UEFI applications, which can perform a variety of tasks such as configuring hardware settings, diagnosing problems, and even running full-blown operating systems. This flexibility makes UEFI a powerful platform for developers and system administrators.
UEFI is now the standard firmware interface for most new computers, replacing the older BIOS system. It is supported by all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.