Section 8 - Memory

The computer receives information from input devices, the processor processes it, and it is fed back to the user through output devices. This cycle (input - process - output) would not be possible without a holding place for the information. This holding place is known as memory.

Memory is the electronic holding place for instructions and data that your computer's microprocessor can easily reach. This type of memory is known as Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). RAM and ROM make up the working memory of the computer. (A third form of memory falls into the category of storage devices and these will be discussed in Lesson 6 of this tutorial.)