What is a disadvantage of volatile memory?

Volatile memory is characterized by its dependence on power to retain data, which means that any information stored in it is lost once the power supply is interrupted or turned off. This is a fundamental feature of volatile memory types, such as RAM (Random Access Memory), where quick access to temporary data is essential for system performance. In scenarios where data persistence is crucial, relying on volatile memory can lead to significant drawbacks, as users would need to save any important information to a non-volatile storage medium before shutting off the power, effectively limiting its usability for long-term data storage.

This aspect distinguishes volatile memory from non-volatile types, which retain data regardless of power supply, making them suitable for storing information that must persist even when the device is powered down. Understanding this limitation is critical for selecting the appropriate type of memory for various computing needs.