Volatile memory is a semiconductor technology that requires a continuous power supply to maintain stored data. Static and dynamic random-access memory are common examples of transient memory. Manufacturers also augment volatile memory devices with battery power to support continuous data storage.
Computer systems of companies and clients also use a mix of volatile and non-volatile memory technology, and each form of memory has its own strengths and weaknesses.
SRAM, for example, is faster than DRAM, which is better suited for the high-speed cache. DRAM, a successor to SRAM, is cheaper to make and consumes less power than SRAM when it is in the active mode.
The non-volatile NAND flash memory is slow to write and read data than the DRAM and SRAM. NAND flash, however, is less costly than DRAM and SRAM to manufacture. It makes the technology a perfect pairing for persistent data storage in smartphones and enterprise systems.