Computer memory types

Volatile

RAM

 DRAM
 SRAM

Historical

 Williams–Kilburn tube (1946–47)

 Delay line memory (1947)
 Mellon optical memory (1951)
 Selectron tube(1952)
 Dekatron
 T-RAM (2009)
 Z-RAM(2002–2010)

Non-volatile

ROM

 Mask ROM
 PROM
 EPROM
 EEPROM
 Flash memory

NVRAM

 ReRAM

Early stage NVRAM

 FeRAM
 MRAM
 PCM

Magnetic

 Magnetic tape
  Hard disk drive

Optical

 Optical disc

In development

 CBRAM
 Racetrack memory
 NRAM
 Millipede memory
 FJG RAM

Historical

 Paper data storage (1725)

 Drum memory(1932)
 Magnetic-core memory (1949)
 Plated wire memory (1957)
 Core rope memory (1960s)
 Thin-film memory(1962)
 Disk pack (1962)
 Twistor memory (–1968)
 Bubble memory (–1970)
 Floppy disk(1971)

 v
 t
 e

Example of writable volatilerandom-access memory: Synchronous Dynamic RAM modules, primarily used as
main memory in personal computers, workstations, and servers.

Random-access memory (RAM /ræm/) is a form of computer data storage that

stores data and machine code currently being used. A random-access memory device
allows data items to be read or written in almost the same amount of time irrespective of the physical
location of data inside the memory. In contrast, with other direct-access data storage media such
as hard disks, CD-RWs, DVD-RWs and the older magnetic tapes and drum memory, the time
required to read and write data items varies significantly depending on their physical locations on the
recording medium, due to mechanical limitations such as media rotation speeds and arm movement.
RAM contains multiplexing and demultiplexing circuitry, to connect the data lines to the addressed
storage for reading or writing the entry. Usually more than one bit of storage is accessed by the
same address, and RAM devices often have multiple data lines and are said to be "8-bit" or "16-bit",
etc. devices.
In today's technology, random-access memory takes the form of integrated circuits. RAM is normally
associated with volatile types of memory (such as DRAM modules), where stored information is lost
if power is removed, although non-volatile RAM has also been developed.[1] Other types of non-
volatile memories exist that allow random access for read operations, but either do not allow write
operations or have other kinds of limitations on them. These include most types of ROM and a type
of flash memory called NOR-Flash.