What is the difference between CMOS and BIOS?

CMOS means Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, while BIOS is the short form of Basic Input Output system. Both terms are used together in computer and they are created to perform different purposes but in the process they work together. While BIOS is just a software which manages and controls the hardware of a computer as soon as soon you start the computer, CMOS uses its chip to provide and store information that BIOS will act upon. BIOS prepares all the applications and resources needed by the operating system of the computer to function properly.

CMOS is mostly used to perform this function because it does not consume too much power. CMOS is always on, even when the system goes off, it uses CR2032 battery to keep functioning. However, when the system goes off and the battery is completely down, information stored on CMOS will be lost. BIOS, on the other hand, is not always powered because it works only for a main time.

CMOS and BIOS are two types of computer technologies. They both are abbreviations, which stand for something different. CMOS stands for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System. A CMOS is a chip. BIOS is an operating system that is simple and easy to use.

It is necessary for CMOS to always be powered, but BIOS is not required to always be. CMOS also has a lower power consumption than BIOS does. With their difference in power requirements, BIOS is a critical technology but CMOS is not. Today, BIOS is still used, while CMOS has been retired.