RAM is a type of memory (storage) that stocks information while your computer is running. When you turn off your computer, all data kept in RAM is gone. In addition to storing programs and files temporarily, RAM also keeps track of what's going on inside the computer at any given moment. For example, where information is being read from or written to and how quickly it's moving between internal storage devices like hard drives and optical discs.
RAM also helps load programs into memory so they can run quickly when you turn on your machine. It's usually referred to as "random access memory" because its contents can be accessed randomly (in any order).