Commercial terminology – is “sequential-access memory” the term often used to refer to read/write memory (i.e., RAM) in products and documentation?

Introduction / Context:
Clear terminology prevents design mistakes. “Read/write memory” in computing commonly means RAM (random access memory), whereas “sequential access” describes media that must be traversed in order, like tape. This item tests whether you can separate these terms in a commercial/engineering context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Read/write RAM allows both reading and writing at arbitrary addresses.
• Sequential access implies access must follow physical order.
• Marketing names sometimes blur categories, but engineering definitions remain consistent.

Concept / Approach:
The industry-standard term for read/write main memory is “RAM,” specifically DRAM or SRAM. “Sequential-access memory” is not used as a synonym for RAM. Instead, it characterizes devices requiring ordered traversal (for example, tape libraries). Therefore, the statement equating read/write memory with sequential access is incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks and datasheets label commodity memory as DRAM/SRAM (RAM). Tape and some streams are described as sequential-access devices. Product literature for PCs lists “RAM: 8 GB,” not “sequential-access memory.”

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Correct” contradicts standard usage. “Only in magnetic tape systems” confuses device class with naming. “Only for FIFO buffers” describes queue behavior, not general memory. Cache hierarchy does not alter access classification.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming “sequential” refers to how software processes data; access mode is a hardware capability, not an application pattern.

Final Answer:
Incorrect