A type of non-volatile memory chip (its memory is not erased when the power is turned off) used to store semi-permanent information in a computer such as the BIOS. An EEPROM can be erased and reprogrammed in the host system without special equipment. This is used so manufacturers can upgrade the ROM code in a system by supplying a special program that erases and reprograms the EEPROM chip with the new code. Also called a Flash ROM or Flash BIOS.