Memory Device - A memory device is a piece of hardware used to store data.

Most electronic
devices such as computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc all have a storage device that stores
data and/or programs.

Memory is primarily of two types

 Internal Memory − cache memory and primary/main memory
 External Memory − magnetic disk / optical disk etc.

 Primary Memory

 Random Access Memory (RAM)

 Static RAM (SRAM)

 Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

 Read-Only memory (ROM)

 MROM
  PROM

 EPROM - Erasable programmable read-only memory

 EEPROM - Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM

 Secondary Memory

 Hard disk drives (HDD)

 Solid-state drive (SSD)

 Optical discs

 CD-ROM - Compact Disc Read-Only Memory

 CD-R - Compact Disc-Recordable

 CD-RW - Compact Disk Re-Writable

 USB Flash Drive

 SD Card

 Magnetic Tape

 Floppy Disk

PRIMARY MEMORY

RAM

A RAM constitutes the internal memory of the CPU for storing data, program and program
result. It is read/write memory. It is called random access memory (RAM).

Static RAM (SRAM)

The word static indicates that the memory retains its contents as long as power remains
applied. However, data is lost when the power gets down due to volatile nature. SRAM chips
use a matrix of 6-transistors and no capacitors. Transistors do not require power to prevent
leakage, so SRAM need not have to be refreshed on a regular basis.
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
DRAM, unlike SRAM, must be continually refreshed in order for it to maintain the data. This is
done by placing the memory on a refresh circuit that rewrites the data several hundred times per
second. DRAM is used for most system memory because it is cheap and small.

ROM

ROM stands for Read Only Memory. The memory from which we can only read but cannot write
on it. This type of memory is non-volatile. The information is stored permanently in such
memories during manufacture.

MROM (Masked ROM)

The very first ROMs were hard-wired devices that contained a pre-programmed set of data or
instructions. These kind of ROMs are known as masked ROMs. It is inexpensive ROM.

PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)

PROM is read-only memory that can be modified only once by a user.

EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory)

The EPROM can be erased by exposing it to ultra-violet light for a duration of upto 40 minutes.
Usually, an EPROM eraser achieves this function.

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory)

The EEPROM is programmed and erased electrically. It can be erased and reprogrammed
about ten thousand times.

SECONDARY MEMORY

Hard disk drives (HDD)

A hard disk is a magnetic storage device that uses mechanical platters and a moving read/write
head to access data.
Hard disk drives were introduced in 1956 by IBM for secondary storage for general-purpose
computers.
Solid-state drive (SSD)
A solid-state drive is a non-volatile storage device used to store data. The first of SSDs were
RAM-based and invented by StorageTek in 1978. Flash memory-based SSDs were introduced
in 1989 by Western Digital.

Optical discs
An optical disc is an electronic data storage medium that uses optical storage techniques and
technology to read and write data.

USB Flash Drive

It is a data storage device that includes a flash memory and an integrated Universal Serial Bus
(USB) interface. Most USB flash drives are removable, rewritable, and smaller than optical
discs.

SD Card
It is also known as Secure Digital Card. It is a small flash memory card designed to provide high
capacity memory in a small size.

Magnetic Tape
A magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic storage made up of a thin, magnetizable coating on a
long narrow strip of plastic film.

 Floppy Disk
It was invented by IBM in the year 1971. A floppy disk is a storage medium made of a thin and
flexible magnetic storage medium in a square plastic enclosure lined with a fabric that removes
dust particles from the spinning disk. Floppy disks come in different sizes: 8 inches, 5.25 inches,
and 3.5 inches. The most commonly used floppy disk is the 3.5-inch disk that can hold up to
1.44MB of data. Nowadays, floppy disks are rarely used.