RAM, that is short for Random Access Memory, is a computer storage media which is accessed way quicker than a hard drive, simply because the info can be read randomly, skipping the bytes before the needed info is reached. On a web server, the RAM is employed to load scripts and web apps after they are executed, so the more RAM you may use, the more apps you shall be able to run at the same time and the more people shall be able to check out your Internet sites without effect on the site’s/server’s general performance. In contrast to a disk drive, however, the RAM is used for non permanent storage purposes, as the information is lost once the power is shut off. If you use a shared web hosting account, the physical memory which your scripts may use may be limited and could change depending on what the other customers on the same machine use. With a virtual or a dedicated server, on the other hand, you will have a guaranteed amount of RAM that will not be used by anyone else even if you do not use it at a given time.