Differences Between SPI EEPROMs And SPI Flash Memories?

In embedded systems, a memory device is a physical device that is able to store data that can be used to communicate or perform a certain function. Memory devices can be interfaced through multiple different serial protocols, including SPI, or Serial Peripheral Interface. 

There are multiple different types of SPI memory devices of micron technology inc used in embedded systems, including Flash memory and EEPROMs. In this article, we’ll provide a background on their relationship and a comparison between the two.

Differences Between Flash Memory and EEPROM

SPI Flash memory and EEPROMs are both considered to be a nonvolatile memory. Nonvolatile memory means the device is capable of retaining data without the need for constant power, allowing devices to save information even when turned off.

They are both electronically writable and erasable memory and are microcontroller-based applications, which means they are used either on or off-chip to store information.

While Flash memory and EEPROM devices are both able to store information used in embedded devices, their architecture, and operations for reading, writing, and erasing data slightly differ.

EEPROM, which stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory,

is a type of memory where data is read, written, and erased at the byte level. Flash memory, on the other hand, which is a type of EEPROM, is architecturally arranged in blocks where data is erased at the block level and can be read or written at the byte level.