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Definition: control program


Software in charge of other software or hardware. For example, the primary control program in a computer is the operating system (OS). It sets the standards that all applications must use to interface with the OS (see API and OS).

All peripheral devices in a computer are controlled by software, also known as a driver. The driver software accepts the commands from the OS and initiates the commands the controller circuit accepts to activate functions in a storage drive or other peripheral hardware. See driver, controller, network control program and peripheral.