write-only memory

Humorous fictional type of computer memory that turned out to have real world applications

Entitytype of computer memory or storage jokeQ1535598

Also known as WOM

Instance of: type of computer memory or storage
, joke

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Write-only memory (WOM), the opposite of read-only memory (ROM), began as a humorous reference to a memory device that could be written to but not read, as there seemed to be no practical use for a memory circuit from which data could not be retrieved. However, it was eventually recognized that write-only memory also describes certain functionalities in microprocessor systems. The concept is still often used as a joke or euphemism for a failed memory device.

Overview

All data

17 statements · 6% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Opposite of: read-only memory
Different from: volatile memory
non-volatile memory
computer memory
volatile random-access memory
storage capacity
read-only memory
non-volatile random-access memory
static random-access memory
Show 3 moreShow less
dynamic random-access memory
random-access memory
write-only memory
Has characteristic: uselessness statement supported by: Signetics · has characteristic: error

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3 identifiers linking write-only memory across the web's reference databases

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statements

externally sourced

Source last edited September 4, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). write-only memory (Q1535598). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/write-only-memory-Q1535598