Computer memory, also known as RAM (random access memory) is the place in the computer where the operating system stores information about applications and data in current use so that they can be quickly reached by the computers processor.

RAM is much faster to read from and write to than the other kinds of storage in a computer, the hard disk, floppy disk, and CD-ROM. However, the data in RAM only stays there only as long as your computer is running. When you turn the computer off, RAM loses its data. When you turn your computer on again, your operating system and other files are once again loaded into RAM, usually from your hard disk. There is technology in the works to fix this problem, but that will take a while to reach the rest of us.

Computer memory can be compared to a persons short-term memory, and the hard disk to the long-term memory. The short-term memory focuses on work at hand, but can only keep so many facts in view at one time. Long term memory is much more abundant, and lasts much longer.

Computers work much like this as well, RAM takes care of the current workload, and the hard drive stores long term data. The faster these two can work, the faster your computer can calculate.

There are three types of computer memory.