fragmentation definition

Fragmentation refers to the splitting or dividing of something into small, disconnected parts or pieces. In the context of computer systems, fragmentation is a phenomenon where files or data are broken up and scattered across different areas or locations on a storage device, such as a hard drive. This can result in decreased efficiency and slower performance as the system needs to spend more time searching and accessing these fragmented pieces. Fragmentation can occur in both file systems and memory management systems.