What is Volatile Memory?

Last Updated : 11 Sep, 2023

The term memory refers to an electronic place to hold the instructions and data. This stored information is then retrieved for the immediate use. Without the memory computer devices cannot function fastly and efficiently. Memory is used by the operating system, other hardware and software. The memory can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory. The below article covers details regarding volatile memory.

Volatile Memory

Volatile Memory is defined as a type of storage in which the contents remain saved and unerased until the device has a power supply or until the device is not shut down. If the power supply to the device is turned off or interrupted the data is lost. The best example of volatile memory is RAM(Random Memory Access). Such volatile memory is used in laptops, computers, printers, routers, mobile phones, and various medical devices. The volatile memory of a computer device is referred to as primary memory or storage. Computers RAM makes use of volatile memory because it provides read and write operations from and to memory very fast. For example, while working with any document on the computer system, initially the document is stored in RAM. Once the task is finished and the user turns off the computer system, the Random Access Memory loses the document automatically. If want to save the document for further use we need to save our documents in non-volatile memory such as optical disk, or hard disk.

Types of Volatile Memory

Volatile memory requires continuous electronic power to store the data else the data gets erased. There are two different types of volatile memory. They are given below

Static RAM
Dynamic RAM

Static RAM

Static RAM is defined as a type of volatile memory that we majorly used in electronics and microprocessors. This type of memory does not require to be refreshed regularly. The static RAM helps keep the data and content until the system has an electricity supply. In order to sort the data bits static RAM makes use of flip-flops. Static RAM is used as a cache memory. Static RAM requires less electric power and has a long life. Static memory is faster as compared to other types of memory.

Advantages of Static RAM

Static RAM provides with the feature of reliability.
Static RAM can be used as cache memory in computer systems.
Static RAM consumes less power.
The overall life of static RAM is more and even performs better performance.

Disadvantages of Static RAM

Static RAM is more expensive as compared to Dynamic RAM.
The overall design of static RAM is more complex.
The data is lost once system looses the connection.
The amount of storage provided by static RAM is less as compared to Dynamic RAM.

Dynamic RAM

Dynamic RAM is defined as a type of volatile memory which consists of more number of transistors and capacitors. Dynamic RAM also needs to be refreshed continuously. Dynamic RAM looses the data in very short period of time. Dynamic RAM is often used as a main memory in computer systems. Dynamic memory is small in size and less expensive as compared to static RAM. The architecture and overall design of dynamic RAM is more simple.

Advantages of Dynamic RAM

Dynamic RAM is less expensive as compared to static RAM.
The design of dynamic RAM is more simple than static RAM.
The memory of dynamic RAM can be deleted easily.
The size of dynamic RAM is more smaller.

Disadvantages of Dynamic RAM

The speed at which data can be accessed is slow.
Dynamic RAM consumes more power.
The data in dynamic RAM needs to be refreshed on regular basis.
Dynamic RAM requires more hardware as compared to static RAM.

Difference between Static RAM and Dynamic RAM: SRAM vs DRAM

Difference between Volatile and Non-volatile Memory: Volatile vs Non-volatile Memory

Advantages of Volatile Memory

Increased speed : The main advantage that volatile memory is that it performs all its operations fastly. It performs all the read and write operation very fastly on system.

Consumes less electric power: Volatile memory consumes very less electric power as compared to Non-volatile Memory devices such as hard disk and other type of drives.

Stores the data: The computer devices with Volatile memory stores their data for processing on Central Processing Unit(CPU).

Improves Performance: If the system has large RAM, it performs it's operations more fastly. Due to which it increases the overall performance.

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