Module 1, Concepts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The information being used by a computer is kept in its memory. Computers store the data in their memory in a range of forms and they use their various memory devices in different ways. There are several ways you can classify the types of memory.

Temporary and Permanent Memory

• Any data in the computer’s temporary memory will be lost when the computer is switched off, while the data in the computer’s permanent memory is retained. Temporary memory (RAM) is sometimes referred to as volatile memory and permanent (ROM) as non-volatile memory.
• A computer’s RAM is its main store of temporary memory.
• ROM, hard disks, floppy disks, Zip disks and CD-ROMs are all examples of permanent memory or storage devices.

Primary and Secondary Memory

• RAM is also known as primary memory storage because it is generally the first place a processor uses for data. When you run a piece of software, the data which the computer is going to need to access quickly to run the software is loaded into RAM.
• The other memory stores on the computer are sometimes referred to as secondary memory.