FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A user is concerned about losing edits to a document if the power fails. Which type of memory is the document most likely stored in while being edited?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing where data lives during editing versus where it is stored permanently; candidates may pick HDD because that is where the file is saved, but unsaved edits exist only in volatile RAM.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
RAM
While a document is being actively edited, it resides in RAM because RAM is the volatile working memory the CPU reads and writes during application use. If power fails, RAM contents are lost, which is exactly the user's concern. The document is only persisted to the HDD when saved.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cache
Why it's wrong here
Cache is small, fast SRAM holding recently accessed data and instructions for the CPU, not the user's open document. It is tempting because cache is volatile memory, but it is transparent to applications; RAM holds the document being edited and loses contents on power failure.
- ✗
HDD
Why it's wrong here
An HDD is non-volatile secondary storage; edits held there would survive power loss, contradicting the user's concern, and documents are not edited directly on disk. It is tempting because files are saved to disk, but that is persistence, not the volatile working memory at risk.
- ✓
RAM
Why this is correct
RAM is volatile, holding the document's working data and unsaved edits in active memory; a power failure clears it, losing anything not yet written to disk. Non-volatile storage such as an SSD or HDD retains saved content.
- ✗
ROM
Why it's wrong here
ROM is non-volatile and read-only, holding firmware such as BIOS instructions; it cannot store a user's editable document. It is tempting because ROM is memory, but its contents persist without power and are not writable, so it is irrelevant to unsaved edits.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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