Which is not a type of secondary memory ?

The correct answer is Random Access Memory (RAM).

Key Points

• Computer memory is any physical device capable of storing information temporarily, like RAM (random access memory), or permanently, like ROM (read-only memory).

Additional Information

The memory of the computer is divided into two categories:
1.Primary Memory
2.Secondary Memory

• Primary memory also called main memory or internal memory provides temporary storage of programs in execution and the data being processed. It is known as immediate access storage (IAS) as this is the portion of the CPU that can be accessed directly. 

Primary memory can be further grouped into Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM). Cache memory (small, fast RAM) is designed to hold frequently used data. Let us summarise the features of each of these below.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

• This memory allows writing as well as reading of data, unlike ROM which does not allow writing of data onto it. It is volatile storage because the contents of RAM are lost when the power (computer) is turned off. If you want to store the data for later use, you have to transfer all the contents to a secondary storage device.

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

• Another type of microcomputer memory is read-only memory. Data is ‘burnt into the ROM chip at the manufacturing time. Unlike RAM, the data on the ROM is non-volatile, ie., data is not lost when the computer is switched off.

Secondary or backing Memory

• It maintains a permanent record of data and programs, maintains a store for the program and data being processed if the main memory cannot accommodate the data and program, and acts as an input/output device.

Hence, we conclude that Random Access Memory (RAM) is ‘volatile’ memory while Secondary Memory and Read-Only Memory (ROM) is not.