Memory Management

What is Memory Management?

• Manages how data is stored and accessed by the computer.

• Organizes data in memory to be used efficiently.

What is the Principle of Locality?

• Programs frequently access the same data or data near each other.

• Temporal locality: Same data accessed repeatedly.

• Spatial locality: Data near recently accessed data is likely to be accessed soon.

How does the CPU interact with Memory?

• Registers: Store immediate data for processing.

• Cache: Temporary storage for quick access.

• Main Memory: Primary storage for active data and programs

What are Registers and Caches?

• Registers: Fastest memory for immediate CPU operations.

• Cache: Speeds up data access between the CPU and RAM by storing active data.

What is Memory Abstraction?

• Simplifies complex processes by focusing only on essential elements.

• Uses logical and physical address spaces to manage memory effectively.

What is the Difference Between Logical and Physical Addresses?

• Logical address: Generated by the CPU, seen by programs.

• Physical address: Actual location in memory hardware.

What is a Memory Management Unit (MMU)?

• Hardware that maps virtual addresses to physical addresses.

• Essential for efficient data retrieval and security.

What is Dynamic Relocation?

• Adjusts process addresses during runtime to optimize memory use.

• Uses a relocation register to adjust each address generated.

What is Swapping?

• Moves processes in and out of memory to manage space.

• Ensures active processes are kept in memory while others are temporarily stored on disk.

What is Paging and How Does it Prevent Fragmentation?

• Divides memory into fixed-size blocks (pages) to manage space efficiently.

• Avoids external fragmentation by ensuring that each page fits into a size-matched frame in memory.