What is RAM and ROM?

Hello friends,

In this article we are going to discuss topics related to memory of computer and what is memory. Memory is the most important part of the computer system. Memory is divided in to two parts Primary and secondary memory and primary memory is divided in to two parts that is Random Access Memory and Read Only Memory

Primary memory

• RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)
• READ ONLY MEMORY(ROM)

secondary memory

Types of primary and secondary memory

MEMORY

Memory is a device which is used to store data in computer on a permanent and temporary basis in the computer .Memory can be classified in two parts primary memory and secondary memory .

Types of memory

• Primary memory
• secondary memory

PRIMARY MEMORY

The internal memory of the computer is known as primary memory .Internal and primary memory holds the data while processing .The internal memory stores data and instructions.

Primary memory or main memory is made of two parts

• Read only memory (ROM)
• Random Access memory (RAM)

READ ONLY MEMORY

As the name suggest, allows data and instructions to be read and does not allows users to write anything on it .The content of ROM is written by manufacturer and come along with the computer .In other words ,this memory is non volatile memory which means content stored in this are not lost even when the power of computer is switched off.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY(RAM)

It is also called as read and write memory we can read this memory and also write on it. It is temporary nd volatile in nature. Its content is lost when the power is switched off .All the instructions and data is send through the input devices and are stored in the RAM. Types of Random access memory

• Static RAM (Static Random Access Memory)
• Dynamic RAM(Dynamic Random Access Memory)

SECONDARY MEMORY

Since the storage of the primary memory is limited and it cannot store the data permanently we use secondary memory as it present outside the computer .It is also known as additional memory.

Various secondary devices are used to store data few examples are Hard disk ,Floppy Disk, Compact Disk, Digital video disk (DVD) ,Pen drive ,SSD etc .

Difference between primary and secondary memory.

on the basis of	Primary memory	secondary memory
Storage	It stores data temporarily .	It stores data permanently .
Volatility	primary memory is volatile it losses data.	Secondary memory is non-volatile it not losses data.
Speed	Faster.	Slower.
Accessible by	It is accessible by CPU.	It is not accessible by CPU.
Expensive	It is more expensive than secondary memory.	It is less expensive when compared to primary memory .