What is the difference between primary memory and secondary memory?

Here are the key differences between primary and secondary memory:Primary Memory (RAM/ROM):- Volatile (RAM) - data lost when power is off- Directly accessible by CPU- Faster access time- More expensive per GB- Temporary storage- Examples: RAM, Cache, ROMSecondary Memory (Storage):- Non-volatile - data persists without power- Not directly accessible by CPU (data transferred to primary memory first)- Slower access time- Cheaper per GB- Permanent storage- Examples: Hard disk, SSD, USB drive, CD/DVDSimple analogy: Primary memory is like your desk workspace (immediate, temporary), while secondary memory is like your filing cabinet (long-term, permanent storage).

To understand this better, think about how your computer actually works. When you open a file, here's what happens:1. The CPU looks for the file in secondary storage (your hard drive/SSD)2. The file gets loaded into primary memory (RAM)3. You work on the file in RAM because it's much faster4. When you save, the data moves back from RAM to your hard driveThe reason we need both is cost and efficiency. RAM is lightning-fast but expensive and volatile. Hard drives are slow but cheap and permanent. This two-tier system gives us the best of both worlds - fast performance with affordable long-term storage.That's why adding more RAM often speeds up your computer - it gives more "workspace" for active tasks!