Which technology is designed to replace BIOS and controls the startup process?

The technology designed to replace the traditional BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and control the startup process of a computer is UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). UEFI offers several advancements over BIOS, including a more modern user interface, support for larger hard drives, faster boot times, and improved security features, such as Secure Boot, which helps prevent unauthorized firmware, operating systems, or applications from loading during the startup process.

Additionally, UEFI provides better compatibility with modern operating systems and hardware, allowing for a more versatile and efficient management of the system's resources. It can run in 32-bit or 64-bit mode, which allows for more robust pre-boot applications than what BIOS can support. This makes UEFI a crucial component in the evolution of firmware technology, addressing many of the limitations found in traditional BIOS implementations.