Volatiilimuisti

Volatiilimuisti, often translated as volatile memory, refers to computer memory that requires power to maintain the stored information. When the power supply is interrupted, the data stored in volatile memory is lost. This is in contrast to non-volatile memory, which retains its data even without a power source.

The most common example of volatile memory is Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM), which is widely used as the main system memory in computers, smartphones, and many other electronic devices. DRAM stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. The capacitor must be periodically recharged, or "refreshed," to prevent data loss, hence the term "dynamic." This refresh process is managed by the memory controller and requires continuous power.

Another type of volatile memory is Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM). SRAM is faster and more energy-efficient than DRAM in terms of refresh cycles but is also more expensive and uses more transistors per bit, making it less common for main system memory. SRAM is often found in cache memory within CPUs and other high-speed applications where rapid access is critical.

The primary advantage of volatile memory is its speed. It allows for very quick reading and writing of data, which is essential for the efficient operation of modern computing systems. Processors constantly access and modify data in volatile memory to execute programs and perform tasks. The trade-off for this speed is the data loss upon power interruption, making it unsuitable for long-term storage of operating systems or user files, which are typically stored on non-volatile media like hard disk drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs).