What is the difference between RAM and sequential memory?

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Answer:
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Computer memory chips on the mother board are random access. Disks drives are mostly random access, in that the head can shift to the location of the data to be read. The memory is slightly sequential in that the head must wait for the tracks to spin beneath it before it can read them. An example of sequential memory would be a tape drive. The tape must advance or rewind to the next location where data is stored.

In a sequential file you must begin reading from the first record and continue reading until you find the data you seek (or until the end). In a random access file you can specify the number or key of the record you wish to read or write. Random access tends to be much faster for this reason.
First answer by Pasha582. Last edit by Pasha582. Contributor trust: 177 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 2 [recommend question].

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