:PROPERTIES: :ID: a9596100-817a-475d-b171-767152220303 :mtime: 20240314094405 :ctime: 20240314094357 :END: #+title: virtual memory #+filetags: :operatingsystems:public:project: * Virtual Memory virtual memory, or virtual storage is a [[id:dbf59d7d-2c4d-45f3-9fa0-2e60efedbf1b][memory]] management technique that provides an idealized abstraction of the storage resources that are actually available on a given machine which creates the illusion to applications large main memory ** Benefits of Virtual Memory *** Portability - Programs work regardless of how much physical memory, can be larger than physical memory, and can start executing before fully loaded *** Convenience - Less of the program needs to be in memory at once, thus potentially more efficient multi-programming, less IO loading/swapping program into memory, large sparse data-structures easily supported *** Efficiency - No need to waste (real) memory on code or data which isn’t used (e.g., error handling or infrequently called routines)