what is the difference between memory and storage?
In: Technology
Memory in a computer is short term storage, like when you’re working on a project, it’ll pull into Random Access Memory, or RAM to easily access and save, etc.
Storage is long term storage of files, when you access a file on the drive, the program and file will open up in RAM and you can work on the file.
Memory = RAM. RAM means “random access memory” – is basically temporary very fast memory that it uses to quickly draw from when you’re using programs. Storage is permanent (or until you get rid of it). It’s slower to get information off of (this can vary depending on what kind of hard drive you get), but you generally have a lot more of it and like I said it’s permanent.
Memory : I am working on this right now, or very soon.
Storage: I am not working on this and need to store it long term.
Memory generally refers to temporary, fast memory like RAM or caches. Something the computer is currently working with and needs to be able to retrieve very quickly without having to wait for a long time while it is loaded from disc.
Storage typically refers to something like an SSD or Hard Drive – a permanent memory device where data can exist for a long time even if the computer is turned off. Storage typically is much slower than memory and thus isn’t very useful for storing stuff the computer needs right now, which is why it typically will be loaded in to memory once the program that is running reaches a point where it expects to use it in the near future (f.i a video game loading all the assets of the next level when the player is about to finish the one before it).
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