SRAM

Stands for "Static Random Access Memory." I know it is tempting to pronounce this term as "Sram," but it is correctly pronounced "S-ram." SRAM is a type of RAM that stores data using a static method, in which the data remains constant as long as electric power is supplied to the memory chip. This is different than DRAM (dynamic RAM), which stores data dynamically and constantly needs to refresh the data stored in the memory. Because SRAM stores data statically, it is faster and requires less power than DRAM.

However, SRAM is more expensive to manufacture than DRAM because it is built using a more complex structure. This complexity also limits the amount of data a single chip can store, meaning SRAM chips cannot hold as much data as DRAM chips. For this reason, DRAM is most often used as the main memory for personal computers. However, SRAM is commonly used in smaller applications, such as CPU cache memory and hard drive buffers. It is also used in other consumer electronics, from large appliances to small children's toys.

It is important to not confuse SRAM with SDRAM, which is a type of DRAM.

Published: 2008