AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is RAM (random access memory)?
Random access memory (also called RAM): The fast, temporary working memory of a computer where running programs keep their data and code. Any location can be read in about the same short time, but the contents disappear when power is off, so anything important must be saved to storage.
Random access memory: an example
Loading a 2 GB CSV file into a pandas DataFrame uses roughly that much or more of your RAM.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
Where you learn it
Random access memory is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.