What Is Volatile Memory?

Date First Published: 15th January 2024

Topic: Computer Systems

Topic: Computer Hardware

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 5/10

CONTENTS

Why Do Computers Use Volatile Memory?

Learn about what volatile memory is in this article.

Volatile memory is a type of memory that only retains its data when the power is turned on. It erases its contents when the power is turned off or interrupted for any reason. The most common example of volatile memory is RAM, used to temporarily store data the processor is currently using so that it can be quickly reached. For example, when opening a program or loading a file, the data is loaded into the RAM, allowing it to be quickly accessed by the processor. All the data in the RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted.

Unlike non-volatile memory which retains its data even when the power is lost, volatile memory requires a continuous power supply to maintain its stored information. Files cannot be directly stored in volatile memory like a non-volatile storage device and are only used to temporarily store data used by programs.

Note:

"Volatile" refers to how data is lost when the power is turned off and not the voltage required to store data.

Why Do Computers Use Volatile Memory?

Computers use volatile memory because it is much faster to read from and write to than non-volatile memory devices, like hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). Volatile memory is built using high-speed integrated circuits that allow for quick read and write operations. Although volatile memory is more expensive than non-volatile memory, it is used to balance cost with performance. Volatile memory provides the necessary storage needed to run programs and perform tasks and the speed and efficiency are necessary for the normal functioning of a computer system. It also protects sensitive information as it becomes unavailable when powered off.

Today, most computers use dynamic RAM (DRAM) for the main memory and static RAM (SRAM) for processor cache. DRAM supports greater densities than SRAM, and it is cheaper. However, DRAM also requires more power and does not perform as well as SRAM.