why is ram called a volatile memory
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RAM is called volatile because most RAMs are made of volatile memory. But not all. Technically, it is incorrect to conflate the two. A RAM can be made of non-volatile memory.
There are two issues: why is it called “RAM” and why is it called “volatile”.
As others have explained, a computer memory is said to be “volatile” if it loses its data when power is lost. The fastest memories on modern computers are of this type, hence the programs, especially the operating systems, tend to operate out of this type of memory.
The term “RAM” stands for “random access memory”. Random access memory is the kind of memory that tends to be fastest and, hence, the kind of memory that programs execute out of. The fastest random access memories today tend to be of the non-volatile kind. When modern computers were invented in the 1940’s, all of the ramdom access memory was volatile, hence the term “RAM” came to be synonymous with “volatile” memory. Although technology has changed a lot since then, the term “RAM” is still often used to refer to the memory that the programs run out of, which is almost always a form of random access memory and is usually volatile memory - but it does not have to be volatile any more. In recent years the electrical and electronics engineers have developed many types of “random access memory” that are not volatile. Most are slower than volatile memories, but some are not much slower. So some programs may run out of these slower but non-volatile “random access memories”. You may encounter terms like “ROM” (read only memory) or “Flash” (a type of random access memory that is not volatile).
As others have explained, the speed of non-volatile RAMs is getting closer to that of volatile RAMs, so some day the term RAM may no longer be synonymous with “volatile” memory.
There are two issues: why is it called “RAM” and why is it called “volatile”.
As others have explained, a computer memory is said to be “volatile” if it loses its data when power is lost. The fastest memories on modern computers are of this type, hence the programs, especially the operating systems, tend to operate out of this type of memory.
The term “RAM” stands for “random access memory”. Random access memory is the kind of memory that tends to be fastest and, hence, the kind of memory that programs execute out of. The fastest random access memories today tend to be of the non-volatile kind. When modern computers were invented in the 1940’s, all of the ramdom access memory was volatile, hence the term “RAM” came to be synonymous with “volatile” memory. Although technology has changed a lot since then, the term “RAM” is still often used to refer to the memory that the programs run out of, which is almost always a form of random access memory and is usually volatile memory - but it does not have to be volatile any more. In recent years the electrical and electronics engineers have developed many types of “random access memory” that are not volatile. Most are slower than volatile memories, but some are not much slower. So some programs may run out of these slower but non-volatile “random access memories”. You may encounter terms like “ROM” (read only memory) or “Flash” (a type of random access memory that is not volatile).
As others have explained, the speed of non-volatile RAMs is getting closer to that of volatile RAMs, so some day the term RAM may no longer be synonymous with “volatile” memory.
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HEY MATE,
RAM is called 'volatile' memory by analogy because if the computer loses power, all the data stored in RAM (or other volatile memory) is lost or 'evaporates'. Non-volatile memory ismemory that keeps its data while the system isn't running.
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RAM is called 'volatile' memory by analogy because if the computer loses power, all the data stored in RAM (or other volatile memory) is lost or 'evaporates'. Non-volatile memory ismemory that keeps its data while the system isn't running.
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