Dec
05
RAM stands for Random Access Memory and is commonly referred to as computer memory.
Here’s a few ways to think of it:
- Computer memory is the equivalent to “thinking memory”. When you’re trying to work out a long equation, or complete a puzzle like a Sudoku, your thinking memory is what limits your ability to do so efficiently. If you can’t remember something, you have to write it down. The more you have to write down, the longer the entire process will take.
- When you go shopping, you take a shopping list. If the shopping list is in your head, you know what you need and where to go. If it’s on a piece of paper, you have to look at the piece of paper, read it, and cross out where you’ve already been. The latter takes longer.
- You have a desk that is big enough to spread eight sheets of paper and keep them visible. If you have less than eight sheets, you’ll be able to work on the paper with no problems. If you have more than eight, you’ll have to shuffle sheets with a pile, which is less efficient.
Get the picture? Your computer works the same way – it can only remember so much at any given time. It’s important not to mix the purpose of memory and your hard disk space; memory is a precious resource that applications use to temporarily store data, and hard disk space is an abundant resource that you use to store your precious documents that should be backed up!
