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Primary storage (also known as main memory) is the component of the computer that holds data, programs and instructions that are currently in use.

Primary storage is located on the motherboard. As a result, data can be read from and written to primary storage extremely quickly. This gives the processor fast access to the data and instructions that the primary storage holds.

There are four types of primary storage:

• read only memory (ROM)
• random access memory (RAM)
• flash memory
• cache memory

The two main types of primary storage are ROM, which is non-volatile, and RAM, which is volatile. Non-volatile memory keeps its contents even when the computer is switched off. Volatile memory loses its contents when power is lost.

Primary storage is comparatively limited in size, especially when compared with secondary storage. In a modern personal computer, primary storage is often around 4 GB in size.