Computing

/flæʃ/

noun … “Non-volatile memory with electrical erase and write.”

Flash is a type of non-volatile memory that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. Unlike traditional ROM, Flash supports multiple write and erase cycles, making it suitable for storage devices like SSDs, USB drives, and embedded systems. It combines the speed of semiconductor memory with persistent data retention, bridging the gap between volatile RAM and slower mechanical storage.

/ˈmɛməri ˈmænɪdʒmənt/

noun … “Organizing, allocating, and reclaiming memory.”

Memory Management is the process by which a computing system controls the allocation, usage, and reclamation of memory. It ensures that programs receive the memory they require while optimizing performance, preventing leaks, and avoiding conflicts. Effective memory management balances speed, space, and safety, and is implemented via operating system services, language runtimes, and hardware support.

/kæʃ/

noun … “Fast memory for frequently used data.”

Cache is a high-speed memory layer that stores copies of frequently accessed data to reduce access latency and improve overall system performance. It acts as an intermediary between slower main memory (e.g., RAM) or storage and the CPU, allowing repeated reads and writes to be served quickly. Caches are used in hardware (CPU caches, GPU caches), software (database query caching), and networking (CDN caches).

/roʊm/

noun … “Non-volatile storage for permanent instructions.”

ROM (Read-Only Memory) is a type of non-volatile memory used to store data or program instructions that must persist even when the system is powered off. Unlike volatile memory such as RAM, contents of ROM are typically fixed at manufacturing or written once and rarely modified. ROM is commonly used to hold firmware, bootloaders, and essential system-level instructions required to start and initialize hardware.

/ˈmɛməri/

noun … “Storage for data and instructions.”

Memory is the component or subsystem in a computing environment responsible for storing and retrieving data and program instructions. It encompasses volatile storage such as RAM, non-volatile storage like ROM, and other forms including cache, registers, and persistent memory. Effective memory management is critical for performance, multitasking, and ensuring data integrity across CPU operations.

/ˌrɛplɪˈkeɪʃən/

noun … “Copy data across nodes to ensure reliability.”

Replication is the process of creating and maintaining multiple copies of data across different nodes in a Distributed System. Its purpose is to enhance Availability, fault tolerance, and performance by allowing data to remain accessible even if some nodes fail. Replication is fundamental to distributed databases, file systems, and cloud storage platforms.

/ræft/

noun … “Simplified consensus algorithm for distributed systems.”

/ˈpæk.sɒs/

noun … “Consensus algorithm for unreliable networks.”

Paxos is a fault-tolerant Consensus algorithm designed to achieve agreement among nodes in a Distributed System, even when some nodes fail or messages are delayed or lost. It ensures that a single value is chosen and consistently replicated across all non-faulty nodes, providing a foundation for reliable state machines, replicated databases, and coordination services.

/kənˈsɪstənsi/

noun … “All nodes see the same data at the same time.”

/əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/

noun … “System responds to requests, even under failure.”