Editing Volatile memory (section)

{{short description|Computer memory that loses its contents when unpowered}}
{{More references|date=July 2015}}
{{Memory types}}'''Volatile memory''', in contrast to [[non-volatile memory]], is [[computer memory]] that requires [[electrical power|power]] to maintain the stored information; it retains its contents while powered on but when the power is interrupted, the stored data is quickly lost.

Volatile memory has several uses including as [[primary storage]]. In addition to usually being faster than forms of [[mass storage]] such as a [[hard disk drive]], volatility can protect sensitive information, as it becomes unavailable on power-down. Most general-purpose [[random-access memory]] (RAM) is volatile.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/volatile-memory|title=What is volatile memory? - Definition from WhatIs.com|work=WhatIs.com}}</ref>