Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory stores small amounts of data that must survive power loss, like device configuration, calibration tables, or MAC addresses. Unlike older EPROMs that required UV light to erase, EEPROMs can be wiped and rewritten in-circuit by applying a higher programming voltage, usually handled internally by a charge pump. They allow byte-level erasing, unlike flash memory which erases in large blocks.
The board refuses to boot because the I2C EEPROM got corrupted during the brownout.
Also heard as
- E2PROM
- E-squared
Related terms
EPROM
An erasable programmable read-only memory is a non-volatile chip that can be wiped with ultraviolet light.
Flash memory
An electronic non-volatile computer storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed.
ROM
A class of non-volatile semiconductor storage retains its data without power and is designed primarily for reading rather than writing.