Volatile data refers to information temporarily stored in a computer's memory (RAM) that exists only while the system is powered on. Once the power is turned off or the system is shut down, this data is lost. It includes active processes, open network connections, clipboard contents, system environment variables, and cached data used for real-time operations
. This type of data is critical in fields like digital forensics and cybersecurity because it can provide insight into running processes, recent user activity, and potential malicious code before it disappears when the system powers down
. Examples of volatile data are running programs, active network sessions, and temporary files created by applications during operation
. In contrast to non-volatile data, which is stored on persistent media like hard drives or SSDs, volatile data is fast-access memory used for immediate processing needs but does not retain information after power loss
. This transient nature makes volatile data both valuable for live system analysis and vulnerable to being lost if not captured promptly
