bootwait

Bootwait is a term used to describe a mechanism at the start of a computer’s boot process that intentionally pauses or delays booting. The purpose is to give an operator time to attach peripherals, access a console, or perform maintenance before the system continues to boot. The exact behavior varies by platform; some implementations provide a fixed time delay, others wait for user input, and some combine both approaches. Because it is not a universal standard, the name and behavior of bootwait can differ across firmware and bootloaders.

In practice, bootwait is implemented at the firmware or bootloader level rather than by the operating system. A common pattern is to insert a delay or to halt until a key is pressed, after which the boot proceeds or enters a recovery mode. This makes it easier to diagnose issues, access boot-time diagnostics, or interrupt an automated boot process.

Examples and related concepts:

- On some Raspberry Pi configurations, a boot_wait option in the boot firmware causes a startup pause, allowing time for troubleshooting, imaging, or console setup before continuing.

- Other platforms provide similar functionality under different names; for instance, boot delays in bootloaders like U-Boot are controlled by the bootdelay variable, which serves a related purpose even though the terminology differs.

See also: bootloader, firmware, boot delay, recovery mode.