Following table shows the difference between RAM and ROM.
| Options | RAM | ROM |
| Elaboration | Random Access Memory | Read Only memory |
| Accessibility | In reference with the processor, the information stored in the RAM is easily accessed | The processor cannot directly access the information that is stored in the ROM. In order to access the ROM information, first the information will be transferred into the RAM and then it gets executed by the processor |
| Working type | Both the read and write operations can be performed over the information that is stored in the RAM | The ROM memory only allows the user to read the information. User cannot make any changes to the information. |
| Storage | RAM memory is only used to store the temporary information. | ROM memory is used to store permanent information and cannot be deleted. |
| Speed | the accessing speed of RAM is faster, it assist the processor to boost up the speed | Speed is slower in comparison with RAM, ROM cannot boost up the processor speed |
| Data preserving | Electricity is needed in RAM to flow to preserving information | Electricity is not needed in ROM to flow to preserving information |
| structure | The RAM is an chip, which is in the rectangle form and is inserted over the mother board of the computer | ROMs are generally the optical drivers, which are made of magnetic tapes. |
| Cost | The price of RAMs are comparatively high | The price of ROMs are comparatively low |
| Chip size | Physically size of RAM chip is larger than ROM chip | Physically size of ROM chip is smaller than RAM chip. |
| Types | The RAM memory is categorized into two types they are the: Statistic RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM) | The ROM memory is categorized into three types, they are: PROM (Programmable Read Only memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only memory) and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only memory) |
