Functional Differences Between NVRAM & FLASH Memory

[169.254.X.Y]

I know that Flash memory is used to store the images of the IOS and NVRAM is used to store the startup-config file. But when my net instructor asked me, "Why cannot you just save the startup configuration file in Flash?", I was not able to answer. If you know how to answer that question, please let me know :)  

I also would like to know functional differences between FLASH Memory and NVRAM. 

[Philip D'Ath]

Some routers simular nvram with flash ... so flash is completely capabale of storing a text file (which is all the startup-config is).

nvram simply means it retains its contents when the power is removed.  nvram is often battery backed.

[Mark Malone]

Hi its not stored in flash because the router boots up from nvram not from flash , so the startup needs to be there or it will have no configuration when it loads , you can actually on certain models get it to boot from flash now

see this for differences between both
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/thread/65751

[169.254.X.Y]

I do know the differences between both. I want to know why startup configuration file is stored in NVRAM if it can be stored in Flash? This link shows the router's booting process: http://www.9tut.com/cisco-router-boot-sequence-tutorial
Why cannot router just load the IOS and get the startup configuration file in Flash memory?

[Mark Malone]

Why cannot router just load the IOS and get the startup configuration file in Flash memory?

You can these days you have the option to use both on some platforms , the option wasnt avialble originally it had to booted from nvram thats the way it was built and designed , flash is just a type of nvram basically same technology there both EEPROM