Which of the following is considered firmware?

Firmware is a specific type of software that is closely tied to hardware and is typically embedded within a device. It is used to control and manage the hardware components without requiring an operating system's full functionality. The correct answer identifies software drivers as firmware because they provide the necessary instructions for the operating system to interact with hardware devices. Drivers ensure that hardware, such as printers, graphics cards, and network cards, can communicate properly with the computer and perform their tasks effectively.

Operating systems are general-purpose software that enables the overall functionality of a computer or device but do not fit the definition of firmware. Browser applications are designed for web browsing and are not connected to the hardware at a fundamental level. Visual design tools are applications used for creating graphics and multimedia content, again not related to firmware. So, while all the other options represent various types of software, it is the software drivers that qualify as firmware, as they are designed specifically to work with and support hardware.