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    TYPES OF COMPUTER MEMORY

                     A computer’s memory is mainly divided into two types, as shown below:

     Computers take input, like data and instructions and give output as information.

     The input and results are stored in a special place called computer memory. This
     memory keeps the data safe so it can be used again whenever needed. Let’s
     learn more about this.

     WHAT IS COMPUTER MEMORY?

                            PRIMARY MEMORY
     Computer memory is a space where a computer stores information that it needs
     to remember, both for a short and a long time. It functions like human memory,   Primary memory is also known as Internal memory. It is considered as the main

     helping the computer track its tasks. The basic unit for measuring memory is the   memory which can be easily accessed by the computer. It stores the data and
     byte.           instructions the computer uses. It helps the CPU find and use them quickly to do the

     Computers store data using only two numbers 0 and 1. These numbers are called   work faster. Primary memory is further divided into two types:

     binary digits or bits. A group of 4 bits is called a nibble, which is half of a byte. The      Random Access Memory      Read-only Memory
     combination of eight bits makes one byte.
                                              RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
     The various units for computer memory measurements are given below:
                                              Random Access Memory (RAM) is the computer’s short-term
     Units of Memory  1 bit                   memory. It allows the system to work quickly by temporarily

     8 bits  1 Byte  storing  data  in use. It is volatile;  all the information  is lost  when  the power is
     0  1  0  1  1  0  1  0  turned off.
     1024 Bytes  1 KiloByte (KB)
                     RAM is divided into two types: Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and Static
     1024 KiloBytes (KB)  1 MegaByte (MB)
                     Random Access Memory (SRAM).
     1024 MegaBytes (MB)  1 GigaByte (GB)  8 bits = 1 Byte

     1024 GigaBytes (GB)  1 TeraByte (TB)  READ-ONLY MEMORY

     1024 TeraBytes (TB)  1 PetaByte (PB)  Read-only Memory (ROM) is a type of primary memory that
                     stores important information required to start the computer. It is
     1024 PetaBytes (PB)  1 ExaByte (EB)
     The letter  A takes  the  storage   non-volatile; it does not lose the information, even when the computer is turned off.
     1024 ExaBytes (EB)  1 ZettaByte (ZB)  capacity of 1 Byte in a computer’s   Some of the types of ROM are Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM), Erasable

     1024 ZettaBytes (ZB)  1 YottaByte (YB)  memory.  Programmable Read-only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable

                     Read-only Memory (EEPROM), etc.

                                                                                                  Computer Memory       9

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