Memory and Storage.
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 11:43 pm
Most of the "Software Engineers" are using these terms interchangeably but it's not correct to do so. Why, let's read on...
Both terms are used to refer to internal storage space on a computer. Memory, usually referred as the place where an application loads its data during processing. in Personal Computers RAM is usually referred as 'memory'. On the other hand, a hard disk drive is usually the place where data is stored for long or short term retention and thus is known as "storage".
Computer memory needs to be quick. It is constantly feeding the CPU with data to process. Mainframes computers have fast processors and lots of quick memory.
There is a thin line between memory and Storage, when it comes to "paging" and perhaps this is where these two very different, though similar, concepts creates confusion. In the concept of 'paging' or "page swap" a portion of the DASD (hard disk in computer world) drive is turned into memory for the machine to swap out applications and data from memory to the disk & vice versa. This way, the DASD drive is made into memory, which, while slower than the "memory", can be usefully used to create larger virtual memory spaces for systems.
When time permits, I'd like to add more. Also, would like to hear from who play with these terms every second of their professional life and possibly, this thread will be an easy reference for this concept.
Both terms are used to refer to internal storage space on a computer. Memory, usually referred as the place where an application loads its data during processing. in Personal Computers RAM is usually referred as 'memory'. On the other hand, a hard disk drive is usually the place where data is stored for long or short term retention and thus is known as "storage".
Computer memory needs to be quick. It is constantly feeding the CPU with data to process. Mainframes computers have fast processors and lots of quick memory.
There is a thin line between memory and Storage, when it comes to "paging" and perhaps this is where these two very different, though similar, concepts creates confusion. In the concept of 'paging' or "page swap" a portion of the DASD (hard disk in computer world) drive is turned into memory for the machine to swap out applications and data from memory to the disk & vice versa. This way, the DASD drive is made into memory, which, while slower than the "memory", can be usefully used to create larger virtual memory spaces for systems.
When time permits, I'd like to add more. Also, would like to hear from who play with these terms every second of their professional life and possibly, this thread will be an easy reference for this concept.