The random access memory (RAM), or RAM for short, is the short-term memory of your computer. No file, program, or video could function without RAM since it processes every request you send to your system: reading, opening, extracting, saving. It is therefore essential, crucial for the proper functioning of your PC. To explain further, RAM is a storage space on your machine, but it disappears completely when the machine is turned off. Its strong point is its processing speed: it can be used by all software and programs requiring rapid data processing, such as video games, web browsers, and the Microsoft Office suite.
Having sufficient RAM in your computer is generally the key to a fast system that doesn't lag. Check out our complete article on RAM here: how to choose and install it.