memory

Electronic space provided by silicon chips (semiconductor memory chips) or magnetic/optical media as temporary or permanent storage for data and/or instructions to control a computer or execute one or more programs. Two main types of computer memory are: (1) Read only memory (ROM), smaller part of a computer's silicon (solid state) memory that is fixed in size and permanently stores manufacturer's instructions to run the computer when it is switched on. (2) Random access memory (RAM), larger part of a computer's memory comprising of hard disk, CD, DVD, floppies etc., (together called secondary storage) and employed in running programs and in archiving of data. Memory chips provide access to stored data or instructions that is hundreds of times faster than that provided by secondary storage.