Sequential access memory: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:17, 14 December 2007

Revision as of 08:59, 16 March 2008

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In computing, '''[[sequential access]] [[computer memory|memory]]''' ('''SAM''') is a class of [[data storage device]]s that read their data in sequence. This is in contrast to [[random access memory]] (RAM) where data can be accessed in any order. SuchSequential access devices are usually a form of [[magnetic memory]].

While sequential access memory is read in sequence, accesses can still be made to arbitrary locations by "seeking" to the requested ___location. This operation, however, is often relatively inefficient (see [[seek time]], [[rotational delay]]).