Editing Non-volatile memory (section)

==Overview==
Non-volatile memory is typically used for the task of [[secondary storage]] or long-term persistent storage. The most widely used form of [[primary storage]] today{{As of?|date=September 2023}} is a [[Volatile memory|volatile]] form of [[random access memory]] (RAM), meaning that when the [[computer]] is shut down, anything contained in RAM is lost. However, most forms of non-volatile memory have limitations that make them unsuitable for use as primary storage. Typically, non-volatile memory costs more, provides lower performance, or has a limited lifetime compared to volatile random access memory.

Non-volatile data storage can be categorized into electrically addressed systems, for example, [[flash memory]], and [[read-only memory]]) and mechanically addressed systems ([[hard disk]]s, [[optical disc]]s, [[magnetic tape]], [[holographic memory]], and such).<ref>{{cite web|title=i-NVMM: Securing non-volatile memory on the fly|url=http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/it-security/i-nvmm-securing-non-volatile-memory-on-the-fly/|work=[[Techrepublic]]|date=August 2011 |access-date=21 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322014656/http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/it-security/i-nvmm-securing-non-volatile-memory-on-the-fly/|archive-date=22 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Non-Volatile Memory (NVM)|url=https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2793/non-volatile-memory-nvm|publisher=Techopedia|access-date=21 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322014507/https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2793/non-volatile-memory-nvm|archive-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Generally speaking, electrically addressed systems are expensive, and have limited capacity, but are fast, whereas mechanically addressed systems cost less per bit, but are slower.