What does BIOS stand for?

The term BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is a critical component of a computer's firmware that initializes and tests hardware components during the startup process before handing control over to the operating system. The BIOS is responsible for performing hardware initialization, running the Power-On Self-Test (POST), and loading the operating system from a storage device.

The name "Basic Input/Output System" accurately reflects its role in the computer's architecture. It serves as an interface between the operating system and the hardware, providing essential functions for input from devices like keyboards and output to displays.

The other options do not correctly represent the acronym. For example, "Basic Integrated Operating System" and "Basic Internal Operating System" imply a system-level software function not encompassed by BIOS. "Binary Input/Output System" incorrectly suggests a differentiation of data handling not applicable to the basic input/output functions that BIOS performs.