NANDflashin

NANDflashin is a term sometimes used colloquially to describe the process of writing or flashing data onto NAND flash memory. This type of memory is non-volatile, meaning it retains data even when power is removed, and is widely used in solid-state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, memory cards, and embedded systems. The "flashing" process involves sending specific data patterns to the memory cells within the NAND chip in a controlled sequence. This operation can be performed by a host controller, firmware, or specialized programming tools. The underlying technology of NAND flash involves trapping electrons in floating gates within transistors. Writing data involves applying voltages to control gates to alter the charge state of these floating gates, which in turn determines whether a cell represents a '0' or a '1'. Erasing data typically involves removing electrons from the floating gates. NAND flash memory is organized into blocks and pages, and data is written and erased at the page level, but erased at the block level. This architectural characteristic is fundamental to understanding the performance and endurance limitations of NAND flash devices.