<storage> Storage or memory which is transient, not permanent, and which looses its data when the electrical power is switched off or interrupted. Semiconductor RAM is normally volatile though non-volatile RAM is available for special applications. (Volatile) RAM can be further divided into static RAM and dynamic RAM, the latter looses its data, even if the power is still on, unless it is refreshed. An acoustic delay line is a (very old) example of a volatile storage device.
(17 May 1995)