Which type of memory is designed to retain data when the power supply is interrupted?

Non-volatile memory is designed to retain data even when the power supply is interrupted. This type of memory maintains its information without the need for a continuous power source, making it ideal for storing critical data that must persist through power outages or system reboots. Examples of non-volatile memory include flash memory, ROM, and hard drives.

This characteristic is crucial in various applications where data integrity is essential, such as in computers, smartphones, and embedded systems. In contrast, volatile memory types, such as RAM, lose their stored information when power is lost, which is why non-volatile memory serves a different but equally important purpose in computing.