memory and storage model

[AnandK-2024]

In Ethereum YP section 9.1 Basic:

The memory model is a simple word-addressed byte array but storage model is word addressable word array

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but when I started understanding about word addressed part , everywhere i found bytes addressed rather than word-addressed.
if the aspect of word-addressed is directly releted to gas calculation, then it should be mentioned there.

for more proof reach out

[kodyfanz]

The sentence The memory model is a simple word-addressed byte array should be understood as the memory model being a simple array where each addressable unit is a word, not a byte, and each word can consist of multiple bytes. The EVM operates on a stack-based architecture with a word size of 256 bits, significantly affecting how data is stored and manipulated. This implies a large addressable space, theoretically allowing for addresses up to $2^{256}-1$. However, the actual memory that can be used is subject to practical limitations such as gas costs and system constraints. Same for storage.