A hardware or memory error that corrupts data and locks a system or component into a faulty state without causing permanent physical damage. Unlike a soft error which might be corrected on the next clock cycle, a firm error requires a hard reset or power cycle to clear the corrupted state and restore normal operation.
Heard on the job
The sensor node locked up due to a firm error, but a quick power cycle brought it back online.
Do not mix it up with
- Soft error: A soft error is a transient bit flip that corrects itself or is overwritten, while a firm error requires a power cycle to clear.
Related terms
Soft error
A temporary glitch in a semiconductor device that alters a signal or data bit without permanently damaging the hardware.
Hard error
A permanent hardware failure that cannot be resolved by rebooting or power-cycling the system.
Latch-up
A destructive short circuit condition in CMOS integrated circuits.