Dynamic RAM (Random Access Memory). High density, cost-effective memory chips (integrated circuits). Their importance is such that the Japanese call them the "rice of electronics." DRAMs are used extensively in computers and generally in digital circuit design, but also for building framestores and animation stores. Being solid state, there are no moving parts and they offer the densest available method for accessing or storing data. Each bit is stored on a single transistor, and the chip must be powered and clocked to retain data.