In this lesson, a brief description of computer memory with emphasis on the primary and secondary memory is given.
Table of Contents
What is Computer Memory?
Computer memory is only a container and an essential computer component that helps store programs and data for processing. However, this component is not involved in any data processing. In a computer, there are two types of memory: primary and secondary. While RAM is a part of primary memory and is used to store data temporarily, secondary memory includes devices such as ROM, hard drives, and USB drives and is used to store data permanently.
What are the Different Types of Computer Memory?
In a computer, there are two types of memory: primary and secondary. While RAM is a part of primary memory and is used to store data temporarily, secondary memory includes devices such as ROM, hard drives, and USB drives and is used to store data permanently.
What is Primary Memory?
Primary memory, also known as RAM (Random Access Memory), consists of an array of bytes with different capacities like 2 Gega Bytes, 4 Gega Bytes, 8 Gega Bytes, to multiples of 8 Gega Bytes. Most people use RAM of 8gega bytes or 16 Gega bytes, but 32 Gega Bytes or 64 Gega Bytes can be considered for higher performance.
What is Secondary Memory?
Secondary memory is either in-built into the computer system or connected from external sources to the computer. Some examples of secondary memory are hard disk, SD Card, solid-state drive, pen drive, and others. Secondary memory is non-volatile, meaning it can retain or hold data even when the computer is switched off. Hence, such devices are used to store programs and data longer.
Although hard drives are more popular among the various secondary storage devices, solid-state drives are slowly becoming familiar as they can keep the data magnetically over the spinning disks, making them more efficient in terms of fastness or reliability than traditional hard drives.
Importantly, all the compiled or executable files in machine language formats, ROM files, are sent to the RAM. To elaborate, the dot e x e files of c programming which are in binary form of structured programming, and dot class files of java that are byte code in binary form of object-oriented programming, are stored inside the hard disk and will be sent to the RAM to initiate processing upon calling for execution.
The Structure of Memory
The main memory or RAM is organized into many layers as a stack. Here, stack means one end will be closed, and another will be open. These layers are occupied with various data. A few of them include the kernel and unused space. With the kernel occupying the bottom end, the unused space is on the top. While the kernel is part of the operating system, the programmer’s data will occupy the unused space.
