Virtual memory and it's purposes
Virtual memory is a memory management technique used by operating systems to simulate more physical memory than is actually available. It allows programs to run as if they have more memory than physically available, by temporarily transferring data from RAM to disk storage.
The main purposes of virtual memory are:
1. Efficient use of physical memory: Virtual memory allows multiple programs to run simultaneously by sharing the limited physical memory available. It also helps prevent programs from hogging all the memory and slowing down the system.
2. Memory protection: Virtual memory creates a virtual address space for each program, isolating them from each other and preventing one program from accessing or modifying the memory of another program.
3. Swapping: When the physical memory is full, virtual memory can transfer less frequently used data from RAM to disk storage. This process is called swapping and helps free up memory for more important tasks.
4. Larger address space: Virtual memory allows programs to access a larger address space than what is physically available, enabling them to work with larger datasets.
5. Simplified program development: Virtual memory simplifies program development by providing a consistent and predictable memory environment for programs to run in. Developers do not have to worry about managing physical memory resources directly.
Overall, virtual memory plays a crucial role in improving system performance, enabling multitasking, and allowing for efficient memory management in modern computer systems.