RAM

In a computer, RAM's role is mainly to store processing results from the CPU and to store data frequently accessed. It is also where background operations and apps are when they are running. With the constant advancement and evolution of the processors and the increasing complexities of various operating systems, RAM is becoming more and more important for supporting the processors and enabling them to run at their optimum speeds. The faster you want your computer to be the more RAM you need to support its processes.

Not to be confused with Ram

RAM's purpose is mainly storing loaded programs and the data they use, because it's faster to load and access information off RAM than other disk drives. Processors can act on it quickly, making things like program start-ups happen much faster. It is also used for temporarily storing data that might need to be accessed quickly, for example, when somebody edits a document, the changes to the text and formatting are stored on RAM until the user actually saves it on the hard drive.

RAM is volatile, meaning it isn't a good idea to use it as a long-term solution for storage. Everything is lost if the RAM chips aren't getting any power. So once a computer is shut down, all the data stored or available previously through RAM would be lost.

Random Access Memory is the opposite of sequential access memory, meaning you can access any part of it directly. With sequential access memory, you can only access data in the order in which it's stored, for example, if you have to listen to song number 4 on a cassette tape, you have to listen to everything that comes before it. RAM however, will allow you to directly access any song you would want to listen to, making access far easier and quicker.

Credits:

Created with images by skeeze - "computer memory chips technology" • skeeze - "bighorn sheep ram male" • davispuh - "RAM"

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