Terminology in context — When engineers say “RAM” in semiconductor memory discussions (contrasting with ROM), they usually mean what?

Introduction / Context:
“RAM” can mean two different things depending on context: the broad theoretical definition “random access memory” (any memory with uniform access time) and the practical industry shorthand contrasting RAM with ROM. The question tests your familiarity with this practical usage in semiconductor memory discussions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Context explicitly contrasts RAM with ROM (read-only memory).
• Audience is digital designers and computer engineers.
• We focus on common industry parlance rather than strict textbook definitions.

Concept / Approach:
In practice, when engineers informally say “RAM” versus “ROM,” they are usually distinguishing memories that can be written during normal system operation from those that cannot. Thus “RAM” in this contrast means read/write memory (RWM), such as SRAM and DRAM. While “random access” is the full expansion of the acronym, the intended practical distinction in this specific phrasing is writability at runtime, not just addressability pattern.

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