The first thing we are going to do to understand the meaning of the term volatile is to discover its etymological origin. In this case, it must be said that it is a word that derives from Latin, specifically from “volatilis”, which is the result of the sum of two clearly defined components:
-The verb “volare”, which means “to fly”.
-The suffix “-il”, which is used to indicate a passive possibility.
The Latin term came to our language as volatile, an adjective that can be used to describe what is capable of moving in the air. Based on this meaning, the concept is used in different settings and contexts. In the field of physics and chemistry, a substance that has a predisposition to turn into vapor, changing its state, is classified as volatile. In other words, the volatile element has a tendency to evaporate.
Normally, volatility is a characteristic of liquids, although there are also certain solids that vaporize without passing through the liquid phase by sublimation. Dry ice is a volatile solid that can turn to vapor without becoming a liquid. In the field of economics, a currency, commodity, or market whose values fluctuate frequently and sharply is classified as volatile. Consider the case of the exchange rate between a currency X and a dollar. In January, for one dollar, you have to give up five units of currency X. One month later, the exchange rate changes from 8 to 1. Another month later, the exchange rate is 12 to 1. Given this constant devaluation, it can be stated that currency X is a volatile currency. In the field of information technologies, we cannot forget the use of the adjective that concerns us. Specifically, we speak in this field of what has been called volatile memory. This term is used to define the memory of the computer that is completely lost when the electrical flow that makes that device work ends.
There are several types of volatile memories, with special emphasis on the following:
– The HPU.
-The GJR.
-The sheep. Also known as random access memory, it is used in computers to be able to work with the operating system or even with the different existing programs. It connects to the memory bus through what is a memory bus and there can be two types of errors in your system: software errors and crashes.
-DRAM, which is also called dynamic random access memory and can be of two types: asynchronous DRAM, which is divided into FPM RAM and EDO RAM, and SDRAM.
-SRAM. It is also known as static random access memory. It should be noted that volatile is also one that lacks constancy and whose conditions or characteristics vary frequently. For example: “The recognition of the spectators is volatile: one day they love you and the next they forget you”, “The neighbors are fed up with volatile projects: they want a serious and lasting government program”.
