What is a ROM?

[grizcoach]

I know in computers ROM is Read Only Memory but what is it in the android OS and how does it operate? I see people are creating custom ROMs and have no idea what that is.

Thanks for any help you can provide
John

 

[LtKen]

"ROM" is just a generic term for the software that makes up the OS, and a bit of a misnomer. This term could easily be changed to "OS sofware" or "system software". It does mean Read Only Memory, but ROM likely comes from that part of the system memory, since you dont want to be able to write over the system files (easily).

 

[grizcoach]

ltken

Thanks for the reply. If ROM is part of the operating software, then what does it mean when someone creates a custom ROM? Is that a custom OS?