What is the need for secondary memory?

Question

English Chatterbox · Accepted Answer

The need for

secondary memory

in a computer system arises due to several important factors:

Permanent Storage:

Unlike primary memory (RAM), secondary memory is

non-volatile

, meaning it retains data even when the computer is turned off. This is crucial for storing data and programs permanently.

Larger Capacity:

Secondary memory generally offers a

much larger storage capacity

compared to primary memory, allowing for the storage of extensive amounts of data, programs, and files.

Cost Effectiveness:

Secondary storage devices

, such as hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs), are

cheaper

per unit of storage compared to RAM. This makes it economically viable to store large amounts of data.

Backup and Archiving:

Secondary memory is essential for

backing up important data

and for

archiving information

that may not be needed frequently but must be preserved.

Indirect Access:

While secondary memory is slower than primary memory, it provides a way to

access data that does not need to be constantly moved in and out of the primary memory

, thus optimizing the performance of the computer system.

Overall,

secondary memory

is indispensable for ensuring data persistence, providing ample storage space, and maintaining cost efficiency in computer systems.

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