nvram · shipping · also NVRAM, nonvolatile RAM

Non-volatile random-access memory

NVRAM is random-access memory whose protected contents can survive loss of the system's normal power supply.

Related Observatory article: Non-volatile random-access memory on hesela.com

Retention may come from nonvolatile media or auxiliary power, including batteries or an uninterruptible power supply. NVRAM therefore describes a retention property, not one cell technology. [1]

Interface: The label alone does not establish the byte-addressable, low-latency interface associated with persistent memory. These concepts can overlap, but they are not interchangeable interface specifications. [2]

Protection: Identify the protected buffers and recovery mechanism. In an NVMEM-to-flash design, completing the emergency copy depends on functional, sufficiently charged backup power. Protection of acknowledged device writes does not reach data still held only by an application or client cache. [3]

Relations

related
NVDIMM-N, Persistent memory, Power loss protection, All-flash array, ONTAP consistency point

Citations

  1. SNIA Dictionary: non-volatile random access memory. (accessed 2026-10-28)
  2. SNIA Dictionary: persistent memory. (accessed 2026-10-28)
  3. NetApp ONTAP 9: unexpected power outage, NVRAM/NVMEM protection and application boundaries. (accessed 2026-10-28)
Sources & caveats
  • SNIA defines the general term. The ONTAP NVMEM-to-flash example illustrates one implementation, not a requirement for every NVRAM device. [1] [3]
  • The interface distinction is a comparison of the two SNIA definitions, not a claim that NVRAM and persistent memory are disjoint categories. [1] [2]

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Hesela team. Non-volatile random-access memory. Hesela. 2026-10-28. https://hesela.dev/terms/nvram/