Introduction to Memory Management in Operating System:
Definition and Explanation:
Computer has main memory or RAM. Various architectures enable various uses of such memory. Internally, memory could be accessed in different ways. Processes cannot run unless their code and data structures are in the RAM. It is in the main memory where instructions reside and are interpreted by the processor.
Some important issues related to the need for memory management include:
- Many times an operating system manages many processes (multi-programming).
- The code and data for a process must be in RAM before it could be run.
- Processes must not be able to access the code and data of other processes without permission. It means that the processes must be protected.
- Processes must be able to access and share the code and data of other processes if they have permission.
- There is usually not enough RAM to hold the code and data for all the currently running processes in RAM.
The Memory Management Module is the part of the operating system that must solve the above issues. In other words memory management is about sharing memory so that the largest number of processes can run in the most efficient way.
