EPROM Definition

EPROM is an abbreviation of the terminology Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory which is standing for a storage chip like a memory device that can be rewritten and is capable of storing and retrieving information without the electrical power being present. In general EPROMs are written on an external computer device in preparation to be installed in a circuit board.

In order to rewrite the data from this chip to program new information the EPROM is removed from the circuit board and then placed under an intense ultraviolet light for up to 20 minutes at a time. Nowadays however EPROMs are no longer used and have been replaced by its successor EEPROM.

Why is EPROM no longer used?

As we have mentioned in the previous section regarding this technology an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory no longer serves its purpose to the maximum capability and is therefore practically considered as an obsolete piece of tech. Why that happened can be described in many reasons by the three most prominent ones include the following:

• Constraints in the method of erasing. Since the technicians are supposed to use ultraviolet equipment to conduct the erasure of the memory it makes it substantially more difficult to operate an EPROM and therefore resulting in this type of technology going obsolete.
• Significantly slower speed. To consider that the erasure of memory is taking anywhere from 20 minutes or more as well as the fact that writing data onto a memory is no less time consuming it becomes obvious why the EPROMs are no longer causing resonance.
• Technological advancement. To put it simply the modern state of technology practically pushed Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory out of ciculations as other methods are now way more efficient at performing the same core functions.