Editing Volatile memory

{{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>

==Types==
There are two kinds of volatile RAM: [[Dynamic random-access memory|dynamic]] and [[Static random-access memory|static]]. Even though both types need continuous electrical current to retain data, there are some important differences between them.

Dynamic RAM (DRAM) is very popular due to its cost-effectiveness. DRAM stores each bit of information in a different capacitor within the integrated circuit. DRAM chips need just one single capacitor and one transistor to store each bit of information. This makes it space-efficient and inexpensive.<ref>{{citation |url=http://smithsonianchips.si.edu/ice/cd/MEMORY97/SEC07.PDF |title=DRAM Technology |publisher=Integrated Circuit Engineering Corporation |access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref>

The main advantage of static RAM (SRAM) is that it is much faster than dynamic RAM. Its disadvantage is its high price. SRAM does not need continuous electrical refreshes, but it still requires constant current to sustain the difference in voltage. Every single bit in a static RAM chip needs a cell of six transistors, whereas dynamic RAM requires only one capacitor and one transistor. As a result, SRAM is unable to accomplish the storage capabilities of the DRAM family.<ref name="HowStuffWorks">{{cite web |url=https://computer.howstuffworks.com/question452.htm |title=What is the difference between static RAM and dynamic RAM? |access-date=2018-05-14 |publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]]|date=2000-08-24 }}</ref> SRAM is commonly used as [[CPU cache]] and for [[processor register]]s and in networking devices.

==References==
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[[Category:Computer memory]]