RAM (Random Access Memory) is a computer's main memory. RAM temporarily stores parts of the operating system and any applications you run, to allow faster access to data and to improve performance.
The operating system and individual software applications each have their own minimum and recommended RAM requirements. The more RAM your computer has, the better and more efficiently your OS and applications will run. Having a generous amount of RAM in your computer can also allow you to run more programs simultaneously, such as email, a web browser, a word processor, and iTunes.

