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Sure, you know there's memory in your computer that makes it run, but you might not know just how it works. The type of memory in which you can buy in a store, or online, is called RAM, which stands for Random Access Memory. It's called random access because you can access any memory cell you want if you know the row and column which intersect the cell.
The opposite of RAM is SAM, or Serial Access Memory. Serial Access Memory stores data in a series of cells which can only be accessed in sequential order. Think of it like a cassette tape. If the data isn't stored in the location in memory you are in, each cell is checked until the needed data is found. SAM is great for memory buffers in which the data is usually stored in the order it will be used. RAM data can be accessed in any order.
A memory chip is very similar to a microprocessor. It has an integrated circuit which is made up of millions of transistors and capacitors. Dynamic random access memory is made up of one transistor and one capacitor which are paired to create a memory cell. These cells represent a single bit of data. The capacitor is what holds the data, either a 0 or a 1. The transistor is the switch which lets you control the capacitor by telling it when to change its state.
The refresh operation is where dynamic random access memory gets it's name. DRAM has to be constantly refreshed, or it will forget what its holding. The downside to this type of memory is that it takes longer and can potentially slow your computer down. Your computer has each of these types of memory, and they all work together to give you a functional machine.