Non-volatile memory stores data without power, making it permanent and easy to archive. Examples include ROM, optical media, and flash drives. However, costs and technological changes can make accessing data a challenge. Non-volatile memory is secondary to volatile memory, which is faster but temporary. CDs and DVDs are a form of non-volatile memory, but accessing them may become difficult over time due to changing technology.
Non-volatile memory is any type of computer memory system that stores data without power, meaning it doesn’t need to be plugged into a power source to access its critical information. If the power is interrupted or the computer is turned off during the project, the data stored in this way will not be lost. Common examples include read-only memory (ROM) applications and optical media such as CDs and DVDs; flash drives and usually parts of computer hard drives are also structured this way. The main advantages of this type of memory are practicality and ease of archiving, while costs and the possibility of deleting or overwriting data can be against it. Technological changes can also make certain devices or means of accessing data obsolete, even if in most cases the information is there – it’s just that getting there can be a challenge.
Understanding computer memory
Computers and computer-based technologies usually have a couple of different ways of storing data and information, and these are often referred to as “memory.” Nonvolatile memory is among the most permanent, but in most cases it is also secondary, meaning it is a copy of information that already exists somewhere else in some other form. It is not usually understood as a “backup”, but in some cases it is used that way.
Most tech-savvy people think of this type of memory in juxtaposition with what it isn’t. It is not temporary and does not need to be fed to maintain its integrity. This puts it in direct opposition to random access memory (RAM), which is the type of memory a computer uses to instantly display and capture things that are happening in real time. If the computer loses power, this information usually disappears. It often cannot be recovered unless saved to a non-volatile source such as a hard drive, flash drive, or CD-ROM.
Read only memory
Read-only memory, also called mask ROM, is one of the most popular types of nonvolatile memory. It stores information permanently in a medium that cannot be erased from the chip. Several other types of nonvolatile memory share the acronym “ROM,” but can actually be rewritten. These include erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), and flash memory, also sometimes called flash ROM. Most forms of EPROM are erased using UV light, which erases all data on the chip, whereas data on an EEPROM chip can be selectively erased and rewritten. Flash memory has evolved and is similar to EEPROM.
Optical technology
CDs and DVDs are also a form of non-volatile memory, storing their data in pits on the surface of discs. They use optical technology as opposed to most other types of computer storage, which are typically magnet-based. This makes them free from some problems faced by other forms of media, such as data loss caused by proximity to magnets. Optical discs, however, have their own set of problems, including scratches.
pros and cons
Non-volatile secondary storage is generally considered to be beneficial, although, as with so many things, there are both pros and cons. On the plus side, the devices used to capture it are typically less expensive to manufacture than those that channel volatile memory, and the data can be stored for a very long time, sometimes indefinitely. In many cases these types of devices also allow you to upgrade your computer hardware. This allows developers to adapt to new technologies and avoid complete hardware upgrades.
Over time, users may find that not all of their information is as accessible as it once was, thanks in part to changing technology. Some storage devices, especially CDs and DVDs, can reasonably be expected to continue to be accessible in the future, but depending on the type of file being stored, accessing it could be a problem. As computer software is updated, files written or created by older versions of programs may not be readable. Older storage devices like floppy disks and zip drives may also need special technology to access them later.
The usefulness of non-volatile devices when it comes to long-term storage can also mean that they may not perform as well as those that handle immediate storage, at least when it comes to delivering fast and consistent results. Volatile devices are generally better suited to memory that needs to be read and rewritten. It’s generally more expensive than non-volatile memory, but it’s also much faster.
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