Both. The software resides in the nonvolatile memory when it is not being run, and a copy is loaded into main memory when it is being run. Programs have to reside in RAM in order for the CPU to process their instructions.
The main working memory of a computer is its Random Access Memory (RAM). When the power is switched off, all data stored in RAM is lost because it is volatile memory, meaning it requires a constant power supply to maintain the stored information. In contrast, non-volatile memory types, like hard drives or SSDs, retain data even when powered down.
The software would tell it where to find the items.
Main computer memory is called volatile memory. It holds data only as long as it is provided power. When you turn off the computer, you remove power from the memory chips and they loose the ability to hold data. If you want to keep your information, ensure you save it to the computer hard drive before you switch off the computer.
Memory can be categorized in different ways by technology or properties: primary access by the CPU or secondary (indirect) access by the CPU. This distinction is primarily based on the speed of access to the memory. volatile or non-volatile is a distinction based on technology (magnetic vs. electrical, etc.). Volatile memory requires power to maintain its stored information. Read-only memory, or read-write is a distinction based on properties of the memory. Read only memory, or "ROM", is not modifiable.
Computer memory
volatile variable is mainly used in multithreading environment. so let me explain it from that context.In a multithreading environment,for a variable which is not marked as volatile will be stored in local cache memory for each thread. Meaning each thread will have a local copy of the variable and they dont know about what value this variable is having in another thread. If a variable is marked volatile, then the updations to this variable will happen in the main memory and not in local cache
BIOS is a program (stored in ROM), not a memory.However the BIOS uses a battery backed up RAM to store a variety of settings and parameters. This BIOS RAM is itself volatile (it can only store data when powered), however the battery backup provides power to this RAM when the main power of the computer is off (making it act as if it were nonvolatile). When this battery dies the BIOS RAM will lose its data and (after the battery is replaced) the machine may have to be reconfigured from scratch before the machine will startup correctly.
Main memory, or primary memory, is primarily categorized into two types: RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory). RAM is volatile and used for temporary data storage while a computer is running, allowing for quick read and write access. ROM, on the other hand, is non-volatile and stores firmware or software that is not intended to be modified frequently. Additionally, RAM can be further divided into DRAM (Dynamic RAM) and SRAM (Static RAM), each with different performance characteristics.
non volatile ROM
Main memory (RAM).
LOADERS
The operator system is software- a program that controls the computer. It is usually stored on the hard drive when the computer is not running and is read into a special portion of main memory when the computer is booted up. (There is a boot strap program stored on a chip that loads the O. S. into memory. ) Some of the routines needed by the operating system are not kept in the main memory but are read in only as they are needed.