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A standby or sleep mode is a low-power computer state where the system briefly pauses, retaining open applications and documents in RAM while turning off most components to save energy. When you resume, the computer quickly returns to its previous state, as if pausing a video, allowing you to pick up right where you left off. This is different from hibernation, which saves your work to the hard drive and completely shuts down the computer, using less power but taking longer to restart.

How standby mode works

Low-power state: The computer enters a low-power mode, but remains on.

RAM retention: Open applications and documents are saved to the system's RAM (Random Access Memory).

Component shutdown: Non-essential hardware like the hard drive and display are turned off.

Quick resume: The system uses a small amount of power to keep the RAM refreshed, allowing it to wake up almost instantly when you press a key or move the mouse.