Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam

Random access memory (RAM) is a type of computer memory that enables data to be read and written in any order, which means any memory address can be accessed directly and in a random manner. This characteristic allows RAM to provide fast and efficient data retrieval compared to sequential memory types, where data is accessed in a predetermined, linear sequence.

Random access memory's design is crucial for system performance as it allows the processor to quickly access and manipulate data stored in any memory cell without needing to traverse other addresses sequentially or batch-process data. This is particularly important for running applications that require quick read and write operations, such as operating systems, applications, and games.

In contrast, the other types of memory mentioned do not support direct access to any address in the same way. Sequential memory limits access to a specific sequence, which is less efficient for varied data access patterns. Non-linear access memory and buffered access memory are not standard terminologies widely recognized in the context of memory types; thus, they do not accurately describe systems that allow direct access to any address. Therefore, random access memory is the appropriate choice in this context.