In the boot sequence, which component loads the kernel into memory after the bootloader has prepared the environment?

• A. BIOS/UEFI firmware loads the kernel.
• B. The bootloader loads the kernel into memory.
• C. The kernel loads the bootloader.
• D. POST transfers control to the kernel.

Answer: (B)

The step of loading the kernel into memory is performed by the bootloader. After the firmware (BIOS/UEFI) initializes hardware and hands control to a bootloader, that bootloader takes responsibility for preparing a minimal runtime environment and locating the kernel image on disk. It then loads the kernel into RAM (often along with an initial RAM disk) and finally transfers execution to the kernel's entry point. The kernel itself does not load the bootloader, and POST is completed before the boot process reaches this stage. This separation—firmware starting the process, bootloader loading the kernel, then the kernel taking over—is what makes the boot sequence work correctly.