Non-volatile memory

Updated: 05/06/2024 by Computer Hope
Computer hard drive

NV or non-volatile memory is memory or storage saved regardless of whether the computer has power. It's also called long-term storage, persistent storage, or permanent storage. Examples of non-volatile memory and storage are a computer hard drive, flash memory, and ROM (read-only memory). Data stored on a hard drive remains there regardless if the drive has power, making it the best place to store your files. Non-volatile memory also stores your computer's time and system settings even when the power is off.

Note

The opposite of non-volatile memory is volatile memory.

Tip

See our NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) definition for further information about non-volatile memory, examples, and further information.

EEPROM, Flash memory, Hard drive terms, Hardware terms, Memory terms, NVRAM, Persistent memory, PROM, SSD, Volatile