Computer Memory

MEMORY

Just like humans, computers rely a lot on memory. They need to process and store data, just like we do. However, computers store data in digital format, which means the information can always be called up exactly the way it was stored. Also, unlike our memory, the computer's memory doesn't get worse over time.

While memory can refer to any medium of data storage, it usually refers to RAM, or random access memory. When your computer boots up, it loads the operating system into its memory, or RAM. This allows your computer to access system functions, such as handling mouse clicks and keystrokes, since the event handlers are all loaded into RAM. Whenever you open a program, the interface and functions used by that program are also loaded into RAM.

RAM is a very high-speed type of memory, which makes it ideal for storing active programs and system processes. It is different than hard disk space in that RAM is made up of physical memory chips, while hard disks are magnetic disks that spin inside a hard drive. Accessing RAM is much faster than accessing the hard disk because RAM access is based on electric charges, while the hard drive needs to seek to the correct part of the disk before accessing data. However, all the information stored in RAM is erased when the computer's power is turned off. The hard disk, on the other hand, stores data magnetically without requiring any electrical power.

Another common type of memory is flash memory, which is typically used for small devices such as digital cameras, USB keychain drives, and portable music players like the iPod nano. This kind of memory, known as "electrically erasable programmable read-only memory" (EEPROM), is convenient for portable devices, since it stores information even when its power source is turned off, but is smaller and more resilient than a hard drive.

To summarize, memory is a vital part of the way computers and many electronic devices function.

Primary Memory

Primary memory(Internel memory) is the memory that can be directly accessed by the CPU which constantly interacts with it, retrieves data stored therein, goes through instructions and execute them as per the requirement. All the information, data and application are loaded there in uniform manner. Earlier William tubes, delay lines or rotating magnetic drums were used as primary storage which were later replaced by magnetic core memory. Solid-state silicon chip technology revolutionized the electronic memory and paved the way for Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM is volatile (temporary) but fast form of memory.

Secondary memory

Secondary memory is not directly accessible to the CPU. Input/output channels are used to access this non volatile memory. This memory does not lose the data when the system is powered off. The most familiar form of secondary memory that is widely used is Hard Disk. Some examples of secondary memory are USB sticks, floppy drives and Zip drives.

Secondary storage

Secondary storage (or external memory) differs from primary storage in that it is not directly accessible by the CPU. The computer usually uses its input/output channels to access secondary storage and transfers the desired data using intermediate area in primary storage. Secondary storage does not lose the data when the device is powered down .it is non-volatile(Permanent)...