Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a type of memory used in most personal computers, stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor based on semi-conductor. The number of electrons stored in the capacitor determines whether the bit is considered 1 or 0. As the capacitor leaks electrons, the information gets lost eventually, unless the charge is refreshed periodically. Because it must be refreshed periodically, it is a dynamic memory as opposed to Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and other static memory. Also, since DRAM loses its data when the power supply is removed, it is in the class of volatile memory devices.

Related Terms

DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory