Final answer:
The acronym PROM stands for Programmable Read-Only Memory, which is a type of memory that can be programmed once to store data permanently.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acronym PROM stands for Programmable Read-Only Memory. It is a type of read-only memory (ROM) that can be programmed once after it is manufactured. Unlike standard ROM, PROM allows a user to write data to it, albeit only once. Once a PROM has been programmed, the data written to it is permanent and cannot be changed. It is commonly used in digital electronic devices to store firmware or microcode.
In the context of computer hardware, PROMs were widely used in the past, but have been largely replaced by more advanced forms of non-volatile memory, such as flash memory and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), which can be re-written multiple times.