What Is GRUB Bootloader and What Does It Do?
If you’re a computer geek, you must have come across many technical terms often. One such term is GRUB bootloader. Bootloaders are an essential part of any computer system. If you are a tech enthusiast, you might have heard the term GRUB bootloader. But what exactly is GRUB bootloader, and what does it do?
When you turn on your computer, it goes through a series of operations known as the boot process. The Bootloader is responsible for managing this process. It is a small program that loads the operating system (OS) into memory.
GRUB, short for GRand Unified Bootloader, is an open-source bootloader commonly used in Unix-like operating systems, such as Linux. It was initially developed by the GNU Project as part of the
GNU operating system.
The primary purpose of the GRUB bootloader is to allow users to choose which operating system to boot from when starting the computer. If you have a dual-boot computer, GRUB will enable you to select which OS you want to use.
When you turn on your computer, the BIOS will look for the bootloader in the MBR (Master Boot Record) on the hard drive. If GRUB is installed, it will load the menu, allowing you to select which operating system you want to boot into. This menu may include the various Linux distributions installed on your system, as well as other operating systems, such as Windows or macOS.
GRUB can also be customized to include options such as safe mode, debugging mode, and other recovery options. Moreover, GRUB bootloaders can also be configured to load different kernels or boot parameters, which can be useful for troubleshooting issues or testing different configurations.
One of the key benefits of using GRUB is that it is open-source. This means that it can be freely modified by anyone, allowing for a wide range of customization options. Additionally, developers can use GRUB to create custom boot environments, such as live CDs or USB drives, which can be used for system maintenance or data recovery.