Which statement about volatile memory is true?

• A. It retains data when power is removed
• B. It requires power to retain its data
• C. It is non-volatile and permanent
• D. It is stored on optical discs

Answer: (B)

Volatile memory depends on continuous power to keep the stored bits. In RAM, data is held as electrical charges in transistors and capacitors; those charges fade over time, so the information is lost when power is removed. That’s why volatile memory is fast and convenient for active work, but it doesn’t preserve data after shutdown. If memory could keep data without power, it would be non-volatile, which is a different category of storage. Storing data on optical discs describes a separate, non-volatile storage medium, not volatile memory. So the statement that volatile memory requires power to retain its data is the accurate description.