Which memory type is volatile and loses contents when power is removed?

Which memory type is volatile and loses contents when power is removed?

• A. ROM
• B. Hard Drive
• C. Cache
• D. RAM

Answer: (D)

Volatile memory holds data only while power is supplied; once the system is powered down, the stored information is lost. RAM functions as this kind of working memory for the CPU, storing variables, data, and program state during execution. In contrast, ROM preserves its contents without power, and a hard drive stores data long-term in a non-volatile form. Cache is a small, very fast memory used to speed up access and is built from RAM technology, so it is also volatile. Thus, the memory type that is volatile and loses contents when power is removed is RAM.

Volatile memory holds data only while power is supplied; once the system is powered down, the stored information is lost. RAM functions as this kind of working memory for the CPU, storing variables, data, and program state during execution. In contrast, ROM preserves its contents without power, and a hard drive stores data long-term in a non-volatile form. Cache is a small, very fast memory used to speed up access and is built from RAM technology, so it is also volatile. Thus, the memory type that is volatile and loses contents when power is removed is RAM.