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Memory and data storage are two separate entities often confused. Memory, including RAM and ROM, allows quick access to files from the hard drive. Data storage, also called hard disk space, holds permanent information. Virtual memory can be used when RAM is insufficient. Removable storage includes USB sticks and CDs.
The terms memory and data storage are often confused. Both are means by which a computer maintains data used to perform tasks. Therefore, both are measured in bytes. However, memory and data storage are two separate entities and the terms should not be interchanged. Memory is commonly called random access memory (RAM), but it also includes read-only memory (ROM). Data storage is also called hard disk space.
The main difference between memory and data storage is their function. Storage space is used to hold all the information on your computer. The data stored on the hard drive is permanent and is not lost when the computer is turned off. When a file is deleted, only access to that file is removed, not the information itself. This is why computer experts are able to restore information on a computer even if that information has been deleted. To permanently delete a file, the hard drive must be formatted or overwritten. It’s also possible that even if a drive has been formatted, an expert can still view the information. There are programs available that write nonsensical data to disk information, making the information unreadable by anyone.
Memory, on the other hand, allows your computer to access files from your hard drive quickly. When a computer runs an application such as a word processor, the central processing unit (CPU) fetches data from the hard drive and loads it into RAM, allowing for quick access. The amount of RAM in a computer limits the number of programs that can run at the same time. Because information stored in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off, saving a file in RAM writes the information to the hard drive so it is not lost.
ROM is used to store boot firmware, the information your computer uses to start up. Boot firmware tells the computer to check all of its systems and hardware and opens the computer’s operating system. The ROM also contains information that allows the computer and its various hardware attachments to function properly. Unlike RAM, the information stored in ROM is not lost when you shut down your computer.
However, memory and data storage can work together. When your computer doesn’t have enough RAM to support its processes, it converts a portion of the hard drive into virtual memory. Virtual memory acts in the same way as RAM. However, because it is part of the hard drive, using virtual memory slows down the computer. One way around this is to add memory to the ailing computer. There are also products known as removable storage, some of which are USB sticks and compact disks (CDs), which allow users to store files and move them from one computer to another.
