Computer Architecture — Expand the Acronym “ROM” In computer hardware, what does ROM stand for, and what is its primary characteristic?

Introduction / Context:
ROM is a foundational memory category in computing. Recognizing its expansion and behavior clarifies how firmware and boot instructions are stored across devices from PCs to embedded systems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the correct expansion of ROM.
• We focus on the conventional meaning in computer hardware.

Concept / Approach:

Read Only Memory denotes non-volatile storage that retains data without power and is primarily read during normal operation. Variants (PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash) allow one-time or limited reprogramming, but the defining idea is that software cannot freely overwrite it during routine use.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Identify domain: computer memory types.Match the expansion: Read Only Memory.Note key trait: non-volatile and not routinely writable by user programs.

Verification / Alternative check:

Hardware manuals and architecture texts consistently expand ROM as Read Only Memory and describe its non-volatile role in bootstrapping systems.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Royal Ontario Museum: A museum acronym unrelated to computing.Read on Monday/Real Obsolute Memory: Nonsense expansions not used in technology.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing ROM with RAM; RAM is volatile and writable, while ROM stores firmware that persists across power cycles.

Final Answer:

Read Only Memory