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Volatile Memory

Volatile memory requires electric current to retain data, and all data is erased when power is turned off, with RAM being the most common type used for high-speed data access. Other types of volatile memory include Video RAM, processor caches, and disk caches. Restarting a device clears RAM, effectively resolving lingering issues, as the operating system must be reloaded into RAM upon startup.

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13 views2 pages

Volatile Memory

Volatile memory requires electric current to retain data, and all data is erased when power is turned off, with RAM being the most common type used for high-speed data access. Other types of volatile memory include Video RAM, processor caches, and disk caches. Restarting a device clears RAM, effectively resolving lingering issues, as the operating system must be reloaded into RAM upon startup.

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Zeriabrook
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Volatile Memory

Volatile memory is memory that requires electric current to retain data. When the power is
turned off, all data is erased. Volatile memory is often contrasted with non-volatile memory,
which does not require power to maintain the data storage state.
The most common type of volatile memory is random-access memory, or RAM. Computers and
other electronic devices use RAM for high-speed data access. The read/write speed of RAM is
typically several times faster than a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or SSD. When a
computer boots up, it loads the operating system into RAM. Similarly, when you open
an application on your computer or mobile device, it is loaded into RAM. Loading the operating
system and active applications into RAM allows them to run much faster.
Since RAM is volatile memory, all data stored in RAM is lost when the host device is turned off
or restarted. The operating system must be loaded into RAM again when the device is turned on.
While this requires extra processing time during startup, the "reset" that non-volatile memory
provides is an effective way to remove lingering issues that may occur while a computer is
running. This is why restarting a computer or electronic device is an effective way to fix
common problems.

System RAM is the most common type of volatile memory, but several other types exist. Below
are some examples of volatile memory:

1. System RAM (DRAM)


2. Video RAM (VRAM)
3. Processor L1 and L2 cache
4. HDD and SSD disk cache

NOTE: The "volatile" aspect of the term "volatile memory" refers to how data is lost when the
power is turned off. It does not refer to the voltage required to maintain the data.

Updated: October 18, 2019

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