Management Information System (MIS) Practice Exam

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What is primary storage also known as?

Volatile memory
Permanant memory
Nonvolatile memory
Long-term memory

The correct answer is: Volatile memory

Primary storage is commonly referred to as volatile memory. This type of storage is directly accessible by the CPU and is used to hold data that is actively being processed or worked on. The key characteristic of volatile memory is that it requires power to maintain the stored information. When the system is powered off, all data held in volatile memory is lost, which is why it is considered "volatile." In contrast to primary (volatile) storage, other types of memory mentioned are defined differently. Permanent memory, for example, typically refers to storage that retains data even when the power is turned off, also known as nonvolatile memory. Long-term memory often aligns with this nonvolatile storage category as well, emphasizing the retention of data across power cycles. Thus, identifying primary storage with volatile memory accurately captures its temporal nature and dependency on electrical supply for data retention.