Is primary memory volatile, non-volatile, both, or neither?

Is primary memory volatile, non-volatile, both, or neither?

• A. Volatile
• B. Non-volatile
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (D)

Primary memory is volatile, meaning it loses its contents when the power is turned off. RAM, the main example of primary memory, stores data that the CPU is actively using, so it needs power to keep that data. Non-volatile memory like ROM or flash retains information without power, which is why it’s used for firmware and long-term storage rather than as the CPU’s working memory. Since primary memory is designed to be fast and readily accessible while the system runs, its defining property is volatility, not non-volatility. So the best answer is that primary memory is volatile.

Primary memory is volatile, meaning it loses its contents when the power is turned off. RAM, the main example of primary memory, stores data that the CPU is actively using, so it needs power to keep that data. Non-volatile memory like ROM or flash retains information without power, which is why it’s used for firmware and long-term storage rather than as the CPU’s working memory. Since primary memory is designed to be fast and readily accessible while the system runs, its defining property is volatility, not non-volatility. So the best answer is that primary memory is volatile.