ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) - definition
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) - definition
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is an open standard developed jointly by Intel, Microsoft, and Toshiba that defines a uniform mechanism for managing hardware configuration and power in computer systems. Its goal is to enable the operating system to have full control over functions related to energy saving, peripheral device configuration, and dynamic hardware resource management without the need to engage BIOS during normal system operation.
ACPI replaced earlier standards such as APM (Advanced Power Management) and PNP BIOS, expanding power management capabilities at the level of processors, chipsets, buses, and peripheral devices. The ACPI specification includes a data structure (including ACPI tables passed by firmware to the operating system), the ACPI Machine Language (AML), and a set of power states, such as S0–S5 (system states), G0–G3 (global states), and C0–C3 (processor states).
From a programming and system perspective, ACPI provides an interface between firmware and the operating system (the OS-directed configuration and power management model), allowing for dynamic management of processor clocking, shutting down unused devices, thermal control, and the implementation of sleep, hibernation, and wake-up modes. ACPI also enables the implementation of Plug and Play functions and the handling of system events through SCI (System Control Interrupt) mechanisms.
This standard is an integral part of modern computer architectures, used in personal computers, servers, laptops, and embedded systems. Supported by major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, ACPI forms the basis for efficient energy management, which is particularly important in the context of mobility, reducing energy consumption, and designing low-power systems.
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