When it comes to associative memory, how does the memory locate the address of the data?

When it comes to associative memory, how does the memory locate the address of the data?

• The address of the data is supplied by the users
• The address of the data is generated by the CPU
• The data are accessed sequentially
• There is no need for an address, the data is used as an address 

 

EXPLANATION

Associative memory is memory capable of determining whether a given datum (the search word) is contained in one of its addresses or locations. Associative memory  is also referred to as content-addressable memory.
Unlike standard computer memory (random access memory or RAM) in which the user supplies a memory address and the RAM returns the data word stored at that address, associative memory is designed such that the user supplies a data word and the computer searches its entire memory to see if that data word is stored anywhere in it.