Short for Read-Only Memory, ROM is a type of built-in memory that is capable of holding data and having that data read from the chip, but not written to. Unlike Random Access Memory (RAM), ROM is non-volatile which means it keeps its contents regardless if it has power or not.
ROM is a class of storage medium used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM can only be modified slowly or with difficulty, so it is mainly used to distribute firmware (software that is very closely tied to specific hardware and unlikely to need frequent updates).
Strictly, read-only memory refers to memory that is hard-wired, such as diode matrix and the later mask ROM. Although discrete circuits can be altered (in principle), ICs cannot and are useless if the data is bad. The fact that such memory can never be changed is a large drawback; more recently, ROM commonly refers to memory that is read-only in normal operation, while reserving the fact of some possible way to change it.
Other types of non-volatile memory such as erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM or Flash ROM) are sometimes referred to, in an abbreviated way, as read-only memory (ROM); although these types of memory can be erased and re-programmed multiple times, writing to this memory takes longer and may require different procedures than reading the memory.[1] When used in this less precise way, ROM indicates a non-volatile memory which serves functions typically provided by mask ROM, such as storage of program code and nonvolatile data.
