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Digital Literacy Computer Basics Computer Basics Hardware

Richard Ballout
Richard Ballout
229 Points
Posted by Richard Ballout
Richard Ballout
229 Points

Where are programs/apps which not stored on the hard drive kept?

I understand that some programs/apps are stored on the hard drive and some are not. If programs/apps are not stored on the hard drive but are installed on the device, where are they kept?

1 Answer

Michael Hulet
Michael Hulet
47,912 Points
Michael Hulet
Michael Hulet
47,912 Points

I'm not sure where you heard this, but you heard wrong. All data that's permanently stored by a computer (including all programs/apps and their data) is stored on its hard drive. A computer has 2 types of memory: RAM and a hard disk. You can think of the difference as someone's workplace and someone's home. All persistent data lives on the hard drive. That's where it's stored whenever it's not being used. When it needs to go to work, it goes over to the RAM, where it stays while the computer is using it. When it's done, it goes back home to the hard drive and is unloaded from RAM

Richard Ballout
Richard Ballout
229 Points
Richard Ballout
Richard Ballout
229 Points

Thank you very much! I must have misunderstood what I just watched.