Why must DRAM be refreshed repeatedly?

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) must be refreshed repeatedly because of how it stores data. Unlike Static RAM (SRAM), which uses flip-flop circuits to maintain a state, DRAM stores each bit of data in an electrical capacitor.12

Because these capacitors gradually leak their electrical charge over time, the stored values will be lost if they are not periodically recharged. To retain data, the charge on individual memory cells must be refreshed approximately 50 times per second. While this requirement necessitates additional circuitry to detect and refresh stored values, DRAM remains the preferred choice for a computer's main memory because its simpler design allows for much higher storage density compared to SRAM.12