Random Access Memory (RAM)

The kind of memory used for holding programs and data being executed is called random access memory or RAM. RAM differs from read-only memory (ROM) in that it can be both read and written. It is considered volatile storage because unlike ROM, the contents of RAM are lost when the power is turned off. RAM is also sometimes called read-write memory or RWM. This is actually a much more precise name, so of course it is hardly ever used. :^) It's a better name because calling RAM "random access" implies to some people that ROM isn't random access, which is not true. RAM is called "random access" because earlier read-write memories were sequential and did not allow random access. 

Obviously, RAM needs to be writeable in order for it to do its job of holding programs and data that you are working on. The volatility of RAM also means that you risk losing what you are working on unless you save it frequently.

RAM is much faster than ROM is, due to the nature of how it stores information. This is why RAM is often used to shadow the BIOS ROM to improve performance when executing BIOS code. There are many different types of RAMs, including static RAM (SRAM) and many flavors of dynamic RAM (DRAM).

RAM- Random Access Memory
DRAM- Dynamic Random Access Memory
SRAM- Static Random Access Memory
VRAM- Video Random Access Memory
SIMM- Single Inline Memory Module
DIMM- Dual Inline Memory Module
EDO- Extended Data Output
PCMCIA- (Also called PC Card)- Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association
Nanosecond- One billionth of a second. The unit of measure for the performance of memory chips.
Chip- The engineering term for an integrated circuit
Module- The printed circuit boards that chips are mounted on
Virtual Memory- Apple’s method of segmenting hard drive space for use as RAM
RAM Disk- The RAM disk is a block of DRAM that is configured to work as a hard drive.

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