Definitions for "Bus Master"
Keywords:  bus, dma, cpu, pci, csa
A program, usually in a separate I/O controller, that directs traffic on the computer bus or input/output paths. The bus master actually controls the bus paths on which the address and control signals flow. DMA is a simple form of bus mastering where the bus master controls I/O transfers between a device and system memory and then signals to the CPU when it has done so. See also "DMA".
A device that is capable of performing data transfers to and from the bus with little or no CPU intervention.  This improves performance by freeing the CPU for other tasks.
A type of a plug-in board or controller with the ability to take control of the computer's data bus and perform reads and/or writes without requiring the use of the host CPU.