Which characteristic best describes EPROM?

EPROM, or Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, is characterized as a nonvolatile memory type that can retain data even when power is turned off. This ability to retain data without a constant power source is a defining feature of nonvolatile memory. Additionally, EPROM can be erased and reprogrammed by exposing it to ultraviolet light, which makes option B the most accurate description.

This method of data erasure is significant because it allows EPROM to be reused for different data after being cleared. The process of erasing EPROM chips involves exposing them to a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light that penetrates the chip casing, effectively resetting the memory cells without physically removing the chip from its circuit.

The other options describe characteristics that do not align with the properties of EPROM. For instance, volatile memory, as mentioned in the first option, does not retain data when power is lost, which is the opposite of what EPROM does. The third option inaccurately suggests that the chip can only retain data with constant power, which contradicts the definition of nonvolatile memory. Lastly, the fourth option hints at rewritability and easy replaceability, but while EPROM can be rewritten, its specific method of erasure differs from other types of memory