ROMkort

ROMkort, or ROM-kort, is a form of removable memory card that contains Read-Only Memory used in computer and electronic systems. It is designed to hold firmware, BIOS code, startup routines, or other program data that must be available for the system to operate, often without changes during normal use. The terminology distinguishes ROM from writable memory, emphasizing that the data on a ROMkort is intended to be non-volatile and not easily modified under routine operation.

A ROMkort can use various ROM technologies, including mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory. The physical format and connector vary, but common designs include edge-connected circuit boards that plug into a dedicated slot or receptacle in a computer, console, arcade cabinet, or industrial device. In early computers and game consoles, ROMkorts frequently served as cartridges or upgrade cards that added firmware, software libraries, or game data.

Usage and characteristics: ROMkort typically store essential code that must persist across power cycles. While traditional ROM is not writable, some formats like PROM or EPROM can be reprogrammed with special equipment, and EEPROM or flash-based ROMkort can be updated more conveniently. Because the content is not normally altered during operation, ROMkort can offer high reliability in embedded and automotive or industrial contexts.

In modern systems, dedicated firmware often resides in on-board flash memory on the mainboard rather than in removable ROMkort, though ROM-based cartridges remain common in legacy consoles, arcade hardware, and certain niche embedded applications.

See also: cartridge, firmware, BIOS, ROM, embedded systems.