Single-level cell

Flash memory stores data in individual memory cells, which are made of floating-gate transistors. Traditionally, one bit of data was stored in each cell in so-called single-level cells, or SLC flash memory. SLC memory has the advantage of faster transfer speeds, lower power consumption and higher cell endurancefact|date=July 2008. However, as it stores less data per cell, it costs more per megabyte of storage to manufacture. Due to the faster transfer speeds, SLC flash technology is used in high-performance memory cards.

Multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory stores three or more bits in each cell, with the "multi-level" referring to the multiple levels of electrical charge used to store multiple bits per cell. By storing more bits per cell, multi-level cell memory will achieve lower manufacturing costs, but they have slower transfer speeds, higher power consumption and lower cell endurance than single-level cell memory. MLC flash technology is used mostly in standard memory cards. The multi-bit cell, MBC, is a similar technology to the multi-level cell but stores only two bits per cell.

ee also

*Flash memory