RAM, or random access memory is part of a computer's memory that helps it run programs that are active.  RAM comes on a board that is attached to the motherboard of a computer, and looks has rectangular chips on it, which the more you have of those,  the faster and more efficient your computer will be.  Every computer has RAM, and is useful for programs that you don't always need open.  For example, I use Microsoft word minimum of 30 times a school year.  It wouldn't make sense to have that open and running unless I needed it, or else it would slow down the processing for other programs I do need.  Therefore, when a program is open and active, the computer is using RAM, for everything else on the computer, the hard drive is storing the important information.

In addition to RAM being useful for active documents and programs, it's main downside is that when the computer is cut from a power line, all those documents and what not are not saved.  Many people refer to RAM's memory as volatile, because information in RAM is cleared once the computer shuts off.  Like discussed in the last class, we used Microsoft word as an example as to how long it takes for RAM to pull up a document after the computer has been off, as opposed to opening it up after you have already closed it.  It takes longer for the documents to open up after you turn the computer off.  The video from last week's class described why that is so by comparing RAM to a workbench.  What ever programs/documents are on it, are programs that you have opened in the current session, everything else is still in the hard drive, or stored on a "shelf".  Even after you close the program, it is still in the RAM.  People who need more RAM can buy more chips that allow a faster and more efficient "workbench".