What does ROM stand for?

ROM stands for Read Only Memory. This type of memory is non-volatile, meaning that it retains its content even when the power is turned off. ROM is primarily used to store firmware, which is the software that is permanently programmed into hardware devices. This allows the system to boot up and perform basic functions without needing additional software loaded into the system's RAM.

The defining characteristic of ROM is that, as the name suggests, it is intended to be read from rather than written to frequently. While updates or modifications can be made to certain types of ROM (such as EEPROM or Flash memory), the primary use is for crucial system instructions that the machine needs to function correctly from startup.