Memory
What even is memory? Memory is the storage of information. Now when I say storage I don't mean that all memory on a computer is stored forever, because some memory is specifically only temporarily stored, and some memory is stored more permanently. When I talk about memory on this page, I am going to focus on the memory that is not disk storage, like the storage of files in your hard drive and so on, so I will be referring to memory stored on disks and whatnot as storage and any other kind of memory as memory.
Volatile
Volatile is memory that is lost when you turn off your computer, and non volatile memory is memory that stays in tact even of your computer is off. An example of volatile memory would be random access memory, or RAM. This is memory that is saved for access instantly at any given time, this memory is memory which is used frequently, which is why it is saved. So if there is something that is used frequently for whatever reason, it is usually stored in the RAM, for it to be used faster, and the bigger the ram (the more storage it can hold) the faster your computer can go, as there will be more frequently used things that are instantly accessible, meaning there is less time wasted on looking for the right things to use in order to perform these actions, which means the actions are completed faster.
Non - Volatile
Non - volatile memory is memory not lost when your computer is powered down, an example of non - volatile memory would be E.P.R.O.M, (which is erasable programmable read only memory) this memory chip would not accept new data, or let go of its own data, unless you expose it to an ultraviolet light, then you can re-program it, but using the computer with this chip in, when you turn off your computer this device keeps the memory that it has on it, unlike volatile memory that would disappear after your computer is turned off.
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Why memory is important to games
Let's think for a while about how games can, and do use memory. Okay, picture yourself in a typical open world RPG, what do you see everywhere? Trees. Let's just say, there are a lot of trees all over the gaff. It would be beneficial for the computer to hold trees in quickly accessible places, so that it can easily and quickly show trees when needed, because when needed = a lot of the time. And it's not just trees, anything that is going to be shown a lot should be readily available and therefore saved in some kind of memory, and the bigger that memory... thing is, the more memory/ data / in game objects are readily and easily accessible.