random-access memory : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: random-access memory	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for random-access memory
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
random-access memory n the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible Synonym(s): random-access memory, random access memory, random memory, RAM, read/write memory
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
random-access memory (RAM) (Previously "direct-access memory"). A data storage device for which the order of access to different locations does not affect the speed of access. This is in contrast to, say, a {magnetic disk}, {magnetic tape} or a {mercury delay line} where it is very much quicker to access data sequentially because accessing a non-sequential location requires physical movement of the storage medium rather than just electronic switching. The most common form of RAM in use today is built from {semiconductor} {integrated circuit}s, which can be either static ({SRAM}) or dynamic ({DRAM}). In the 1970s magnetic {core} memory was used. RAM is still referred to as core by some old-timers. The term "RAM" has gained the additional meaning of read-write. Most kinds of semiconductor {read-only memory} (ROM) are actually "random access" in the above sense but are never referred to as RAM. Furthermore, memory referred to as RAM can usually be read and written equally quickly (approximately), in contrast to the various kinds of {programmable read-only memory}. Finally, RAM is usually volatile though {non-volatile random-access memory} is also used. Interestingly, some {DRAM} devices are not truly random access because various kinds of "{page mode}" or "column mode" mean that sequential access is faster than random access. (1995-12-05)