Boot loader

What is boot loader?
A boot loader is a type of program that loads and starts the boot time tasks and processes of an operating system or the computer system. It allows the operating system to be loaded into computer memory when a computer starts or boots up.

Ein Boot-Loader wird auch als Boot-Manager oder Bootstrap-Loader bezeichnet.

A boot loader primarily manages and executes the boot sequence of a computer system. A boot loader program usually starts after the computer or BIOS has performed its initial power and hardware device checks and tests. It retrieves the operating system kernel from the hard disk or from a specific boot device within the boot sequence into main memory. A boot loader is only assigned to a single operating system. An operating system can also have multiple boot loader programs classified as primary and secondary boot loaders, with a secondary boot loader potentially being larger and more powerful than the primary boot loader.