What is ROM?

ROM

Pronounced rahm, acronym for read-only memory, computer memory on which data has been prerecorded. Once data has been written onto a ROMchip, it cannot be removed and can only be read.

Unlike main memory (RAM), ROM retains its contents even when thecomputer is turned off. ROM is referred to as being nonvolatile, whereas RAM is volatile.

Most personal computers contain a small amount of ROM that stores criticalprograms such as the program that boots the computer. In addition, ROMs are used extensively in calculators and peripheral devices such as laser printers, whose fontsare often stored in ROMs.

A variation of a ROM is a PROM (programmable read-only memory). PROMs are manufactured as blank chips on which data can be written with a specialdevice called a PROM programmer .refers from