Random Access Memory - The technical name given to the very fast, temporary storage used by your computer to run programs and manipulate data and information dynamically.

RAM is memory that goes away when your computer's power is shut off. Because of this, it is sometimes called volatile memory. This is why you must save your work, for example a document you are working on, to disk frequently. It is especially important to do frequent saves when there is a thunderstorm brewing that could cause your power to be interrupted without warning.

By contrast, information stored on a hard drive is non-volatile, because it remains intact when the computer's power is shut off. Compared to RAM, disk-drives are very slow. This is because disk drives rely on mechanical movement to access specific bits of information at specific locations on the disk. RAM, on the other hand is completely solid state, running at the speed of light.