What Is NAND Flash Memory?

Techopedia explains NAND Flash Memory

NAND flash memory is a type of flash memory that stores data in arrays of memory cells that were made using floating-gate transistors. It contains two gates, namely, the control gate and the floating gate, and in order to program a single cell, a voltage charge must be applied to the control gate. Electrons are then attracted toward the control gate, but the flow gate traps them within the substrate where they can remain for years under normal operating conditions. In order to erase a cell, the control gate must be grounded and a voltage is applied to the opposite or to the substrate. Constant erase, writing and reading eventually wear out the components of the NAND flash, so it is rated according to the number of program/erase cycles it can handle.

NAND flash memory is the most common type of memory being used in the mass market because of its affordability, storage density and access speeds. It is found in most modern cell phones as the main and even as the secondary storage, in memory cards and in solid-state drives as a computer storage, unlike NOR flash, which acts similar to RAM and is a little bit more expensive.