Random Access Memory

(ram)

A general term used to describe computer memory that can be both written to and read from. In general, RAM is used when the storage location does not affect the speed of access to the information. While there are technically a number of different techniques that fulfill the general definition of RAM, most people today think of semiconductor chips when RAM is mentioned. To show that definitions change over time there are now some versions of RAM chips that are read by page or column which violates the speed of access rule above; yet, these still fall into the RAM category.

See also DRAM, EDO RAM, EDRAM, SRAM, and VRAM.

More Information

• Chip Tutorial
• RAM Guide