Short-term memory, also called working memory, constitutes the second phase of the memory process, following sensory memory. It is characterized by a limited capacity in terms of both duration and the amount of information stored. This data is retained briefly, whether semantically or acoustically, for a duration ranging from a few seconds without repetition to a few minutes in the most favorable cases. Any new input of information can lead to the forgetting of previously stored data, highlighting the ephemeral nature of this process.

The concept of “chunking,” originating from the research of Herbert Simon, refers to the approach of grouping individual pieces of information into larger logical sets. This method facilitates data memorization by promoting a more coherent and structured organization. For example, the retention of a series of letters like “D.E.S.F.O.I.S.Q.U.E.L.O.N.O.U.B.L.I.E.” can prove difficult, while this task becomes significantly easier when presented in the form of elementary units such as “FOR TIMES WE FORGET”.