ROM
Definition
Noun: 1. Read-Only Memory: A type of computer memory that stores data permanently. The data is pre-written during manufacturing and cannot be modified, erased, or rewritten by normal computer operations. It is used to store essential, unchanging instructions for a computer, such as the firmware that starts up the system.
Usage Examples
- The computer's basic startup instructions are stored in ROM.
- Unlike RAM, the data in ROM is not lost when the power is turned off.
- The game cartridge contains ROM chips that hold the game's code.
Advanced Usage
- "Flash ROM" or "Flash Memory": A modern, rewritable type of ROM that allows data to be erased and reprogrammed electronically. This is commonly used in USB drives, memory cards, and solid-state drives (SSDs).
- The firmware update was installed onto the device's flash ROM.
- "ROM image": A computer file containing a complete copy of the data from a ROM chip, often used for software preservation or emulation.
- He used an emulator to play the game from a ROM image.
Variants and Related Words
- PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory): A type of ROM that can be programmed by the user once using special equipment.
- EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory): A type of PROM that can be erased by exposure to ultraviolet light and then reprogrammed.
- EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory): A type of ROM that can be erased and rewritten electrically, without needing to be removed from the circuit.
Synonyms
- Firmware (when referring to the software stored in ROM)
- Non-volatile memory (a broader category that includes ROM)
Related Phrases
- ROM BIOS: (Basic Input/Output System) The firmware stored in a ROM chip on a computer's motherboard, responsible for initializing hardware during the booting process.
- The computer checks the hardware by following instructions in the ROM BIOS.
Noun
-
(computer science) memory whose contents can be accessed and read but cannot be changed
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