dynamic memory

This term refers specifically to DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), distinguishing it from SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The defining characteristic is the use of capacitors, which leak charge and necessitate a refresh cycle to prevent data loss. This makes it slower than static memory but allows for much higher density and lower cost per bit.

In technical discourse, the term is almost exclusively used in the context of computer architecture and hardware specifications. It is treated as a mass noun referring to the resource or the technology itself, rather than a countable object.