A device driver is a program that lets an operating system control a hardware device. It translates general OS requests into the commands that a specific component understands.
Why it matters
Without the right driver, hardware may not work at all or only with basic features. Graphics, network and storage drivers affect performance and stability, and outdated or buggy ones cause crashes, blue screens and poor speeds.
Drivers usually run with high privileges, so flawed drivers are also a security concern.
Operating systems ship generic drivers for common hardware, which is why a new mouse works instantly while a new GPU needs vendor software for full speed.
Example
$ lsmod | grep nvidia
nvidia_drm 73728 4
nvidia 56664064 ...On Linux, this lists a loaded graphics driver module. Windows shows the same in Device Manager.
Common mistakes
- Installing drivers from random download sites instead of the vendor or OS update.
- Updating a stable driver right before an important deadline.
- Forgetting to reboot or reinstall after a major OS upgrade.
Related
Get notified when this term updates
Plus occasional practical tips on uptime and monitoring, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.
This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.