ABSTRACT
Digital memories store bits of information for later use by processors, displays, and input/output devices and are therefore crucial elements in most digital systems. Broadly speaking, digital memories can be classified as volatile or nonvolatile. Computers and servers make extensive use of volatile memory that is loaded with programs and files while software is running. When not in use, these programs and files reside on mass media, such as fixed or removable disks, which have greater capacity than the volatile memory but are considerably slower. In a large digital system, the data storage is organized according to capacity and speed. Intermediate types of storage include volatile and nonvolatile memory circuits that are considered in this chapter. The focus is on the general principles underlying memory circuits. Static Random Access Memory se bistable latch circuits to store bits of data.
