Is RAM the Same as Memory?

In the world of computing, there are many confusing terms. Words with similar literal meanings often refer to entirely different things. If for example, you’re trying to figure out what kind of RAM you want for an upcoming build, you’re probably bombarded by the terms "RAM" and "Memory" in equal measure. So, is RAM the same thing as memory?

Yes, it is. In the context you’re probably thinking about, these terms refer to identical things, that is Random Access Memory modules, which are the long sticks that slot into the motherboard, generally to the right of the CPU.

"Memory" is just short for "Random Access Memory," but over the years the short version has started to appear without the context that less-knowledgeable folks might appreciate.

This is further complicated by how "saving" a file on your computer kind of sounds like the computer will then remember the file, which is what storage is for. This leads to the misconception that memory (RAM) is the same as storage. The confusion is made worse by the fact that memory is measured in gigabytes (GB), just like the storage capacity of HDDs and SSDs.

Here it's all too easy to get into a rabbit hole of frightful technicalities. RAM is kind of like storage in that data is kept there, so is it storage? But it also isn’t really. This does, however, put us on the right track to figuring this out, as it leads us to the main difference between RAM (Memory) and storage.

RAM is volatile, meaning that once it stops receiving power (when the computer is turned off), anything stored there is lost. Actual storage, like an SSD or HDD, does not experience data loss when power is lost, making it non-volatile. We wrote a page that goes into way more detail on the differences between RAM and storage, so read that for a more comprehensive explanation.

RAM and Memory refer to the same thing, especially in the context of PC Building. RAM is the acronym for Random Access Memory, or memory for short.

Despite RAM and storage both being measured in gigabytes and both being capable of saving data, RAM cannot be used in the same way as storage because it cannot retain data without power.