difference between primary memory and secondary memory
Answers
Primary memory, also known as the main memory, is the area in a computer which stores data and information for fast access.
Semiconductor chips are the principle technology used for primary memory. It’s a memory which is used to store frequently used programs which can be directly accessed by the processing unit for further processing. It’s a volatile memory meaning the data is stored temporarily and is liable to change or lose in case of power failure.
In simple terms, data is intact as long as the computer is running and the moment it’s off, data is lost. Every application on the computer first loads into the random access memory (RAM) which makes is faster to access. The term is more ambiguous, since it also refers to internal memory such as internal storage devices.
Secondary Memory
On the contrary, secondary memory is the external memory of the computer which can be used to store data and information on a long-term basis.
It’s a non-volatile memory which means data stays intact even if the computer is turned off. Data cannot be directly processed by the processing unit in secondary memory; in fact, it is first transferred into the main memory and then it’s transferred back to the processing unit.
Computer memory is categorized into primary memory and secondary memory, along with cache memory. Primary memory is the main memory or internal memory of the computer which is used to store frequently used data and instructions. It provides fast memory access because of its volatile nature which makes it easy to retrieve information directly from the main memory by the processing unit. Secondary memory, on the other hand, refers to external storage devices which are used to store substantial amount of data in hard drives, flash drives, CDs, DVDs, floppy disks, magnetic tapes, etc. Unlike primary memory, secondary memory is not directly accessed by the processor.