Volatile memory

Volatile memory, contrary to non-volatile memory, is computer memory that requires power to maintain the stored information; it retains its contents while powered on but when the power is interrupted the stored data is lost very rapidly or immediately.

Volatile memory has several uses, for example as main memory. 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 of the general-purpose random-access memory (RAM) is volatile.

See also

• Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM)
• Static random-access memory (SRAM)
• Integrated-random-access memory (IRam)