Random access methods refer to techniques that allow data to be read or written in any order, rather than sequentially. This means that a computer can quickly retrieve or update information without having to go through all the preceding data. This is particularly useful in applications like databases and memory storage, where efficiency is crucial. One common example of random access is in computer memory, such as RAM (Random Access Memory), where each memory cell can be accessed directly. Another example is in file systems, where files can be opened and modified without needing to read through other files first, enhancing overall performance and speed.