Final answer:
The cache memory is accessed first to retrieve records, followed by RAM and then secondary memory. Virtual memory is used as an extension of RAM when physical memory is insufficient.
Step-by-step explanation:
When retrieving records from memory, the cache memory is accessed first due to its faster retrieval capabilities. If the required information is not found in the cache, the system then refers to the Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM allows access to data quickly and in no particular order. In cases where the data is not located in RAM, the system will then turn to secondary memory, such as hard drives or SSDs, which is slower but provides larger storage capacity. If the system runs out of physical memory to use, it resorts to virtual memory, which is a section of the secondary storage that acts like RAM. This process is generally less efficient and slower, but it provides the illusion of more RAM than is physically available. The retrieval of data does not follow a sequential access pattern but instead is contingent upon where the data resides and how quickly it can be accessed, beginning with the fastest storage medium.
The process is analogous to the way human memory retrieval functions: recall, recognition, and relearning. In the context of computer memory, 'recall' is akin to accessing data directly from a cache or RAM without additional cues; 'recognition' involves acknowledging that data resides in slower secondary storage, thus requiring more time to retrieve; and 'relearning' might represent the process of retrieving data from virtual memory or recreating the data if it has been lost.