RAM (pronounced ramm) is an acronym for random access memory, a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers.
Random-access memory (RAM) is a type of computer data storage. A RAM device makes is possible to access data in random order, which makes it very fast to find a specific piece of information. Certain other types of storage are not random-access. For example, a hard disk drive and a CD read and write data in a predetermined order. The mechanical design of these devices prescribes that data access is consecutive. This means that the time it takes to find a specific piece of information can vary greatly depending on where it is located on the disk.
RAM devices are used in computer systems as the main memory. RAM is considered volatile memory, which means that the stored information is lost when there is no power. So RAM is used by the central processing unit (CPU) when a computer is running to store information that needs to be used very quickly, but it does not store any information permanently.
Present-day RAM devices use integrated circuits to store information. This is a relatively expensive form of storage and the cost per unit of storage ($ per gigabyte) is much higher than for devices like a hard drive. However, the time to access data is so much faster for RAM that speed outweighs cost. A computer therefore uses a certain amount of RAM for fast-access, temporary storage of information and a much larger amount of non-random, permanent mass storage like a hard disk drive. For example, a typical computer system may have 2-8 GB (gigabytes) of RAM, while the storage capacity of the hard disk drive can be several hundred GB or even one TB.
Random-access memory (RAM) is a type of computer data storage. A RAM device makes is possible to access data in random order, which makes it very fast to find a specific piece of information. Certain other types of storage are not random-access. For example, a hard disk drive and a CD read and write data in a predetermined order. The mechanical design of these devices prescribes that data access is consecutive. This means that the time it takes to find a specific piece of information can vary greatly depending on where it is located on the disk.
RAM devices are used in computer systems as the main memory. RAM is considered volatile memory, which means that the stored information is lost when there is no power. So RAM is used by the central processing unit (CPU) when a computer is running to store information that needs to be used very quickly, but it does not store any information permanently.
Present-day RAM devices use integrated circuits to store information. This is a relatively expensive form of storage and the cost per unit of storage ($ per gigabyte) is much higher than for devices like a hard drive. However, the time to access data is so much faster for RAM that speed outweighs cost. A computer therefore uses a certain amount of RAM for fast-access, temporary storage of information and a much larger amount of non-random, permanent mass storage like a hard disk drive. For example, a typical computer system may have 2-8 GB (gigabytes) of RAM, while the storage capacity of the hard disk drive can be several hundred GB or even one TB.
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