Random access memory (RAM) is computer memory that can be accessed quickly in any order, used to store running programmes and the data used in them.
It is sometimes described as main memory and contrasts with the term read-only memory (ROM). ROM describes memory that is used to store programmes used to boot the computer and perform diagnostics.
However, since ROM also allows random access it is also a subset of RAM. ROM stores information for the long-term whereas RAM stores information only when the computer is operational and deletes it at shutdown.
There are two types of RAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and Static Random Access Memory (SRAM). SRAM allows faster access.
The amount of RAM a PC has is integral to the speed it operates at for the user. The more RAM, the more tasks it can handle at once without a detrimental effect on the user’s experience.
