RAM, which refers to Random Access Memory, is a computer storage media that may be accessed much faster than a hard disk drive, due to the fact that the data can be read randomly, skipping the bytes before the needed information is reached. On a hosting server, the RAM is used to load scripts and web programs when they are executed, so the more RAM you may use, the more applications you shall be able to run concurrently and the more people will be able to browse your Internet sites without any effect on the site’s/server’s overall performance. Unlike a disk drive, however, the RAM is used for momentary storage purposes, since the information is lost when the power is shut off. When you use a shared web hosting account, the physical memory that your scripts could use may be limited and may change according to what the other customers on the same hosting server use. With a virtual or a dedicated hosting server, on the other hand, you'll have a guaranteed amount of RAM which will not be used by anyone else even when you don't use it at a particular time.