---
title: "Primary memory and Secondary memory"  
description: "In this article, you can read about the basic parts of a computer topic - Primary memory and secondary memory"  
author: "CBitss Technologies"  
published: 2019-09-17  
updated: 2020-02-05  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/188348/primary-memory-and-secondary-memory  
category: "education"  
tags: ["computer science", "education", "computer"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Primary memory and Secondary memory

## Primary memory:

**RAM**: **[Random Access](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102433/can-you-detail-the-functions-of-a-computer-s-random-access-memory-ram) Memory** (RAM) is a memory scheme within the **[computer system](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102357/explain-the-role-of-ram-in-a-computer-system)** that is responsible for temporarily storing data so that it can be accessed quickly from the processor as and when needed. It is volatile in nature, which means that data is erased when the supply to the [storage device](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97217/explain-the-difference-between-primary-and-secondary-storage-device) is turned off. RAM stores data randomly and the processor accesses this data randomly from RAM storage. RAM is considered "random access" because if you know the row and column intersect in that cell then you can [directly access](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/161865/can-service-workers-directly-access-the-dom-why-or-why-not) all memory cells.\
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**ROM:** ROM stands Read Only Memory is a permanent form of storage. ROM remains active regardless of whether the [power supply](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102335/what-is-a-power-supply-unit-psu) to it is on or off. ROM devices do not allow data stored on them to be changed.

Read also - **Basics of Computers - Input/[Output Ports](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102453/can-you-detail-the-functions-of-a-computer-s-input-output-ports)**\

## Secondary memory:

### -Permanently stores data and programs: they are retained after power is turned off.

**Hard drive (HD):** A hard disk is part of a device, often called "disk drive", "hard disk drive" or "hard drive", which stores and provides relatively fast access to [large amounts of data](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/161107/how-does-mongodb-handle-large-amounts-of-data-and-maintain-performance) on an set of surfaces.\
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**Optical Disk:** An optical disk drive (ODD) is a disk drive that utilize laser light as part of the way of writing or [reading data](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/12915/how-to-embed-asp-dot-net-with-sql-server-reading-data-and-changing-textbox-field) from optical disks.\
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Some devices can only read from discs, but new devices are usually both readers and recorders, also called burners or writers. Compact discs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are common types of optical media that can be read and recorded by such devices. [Optical drive](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/51626/how-do-you-install-software-on-the-touch-bar-macbook-pro-without-an-optical-drive) is the generic name; The drive is usually Mentioned as "CD" "DVD" or "Bluray", followed by "Writer", "drive", etc. There are three types of optical media: CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The CD can store 700 megabytes (MB) of data and DVD 8.4 GB of data. Blu-ray Discs, the newest type of optical media, can store up to 50 GB of data. This [storage capacity](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102589/how-to-upgrade-laptop-storage-capacity) is a distinct advantage over the disk storage media, which has only a capacity of 1.44 MB.

Published by **Computer courses in Chandigarh**\
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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/188348/primary-memory-and-secondary-memory

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