1.3.15

How Virtual Memory Works

Test yourself

How Virtual Memory Works

Virtual Memory allows us to access more memory than we have by setting aside some secondary storage space to act as extra memory.

Illustrative background for PagingIllustrative background for Paging ?? "content

Paging

  • Memory can be split into sections called 'pages'.
  • Virtual Memory works by moving these pages between the Random Access Memory (RAM) and the secondary storage.
Illustrative background for Move pages to Hard Disk Drive (HDD)Illustrative background for Move pages to Hard Disk Drive (HDD) ?? "content

Move pages to Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

  • If a page is not being used, then we might want to put it into Virtual Memory.
  • When a page is moved to the HDD and not being used, it is put into a special file called the pagefile.
  • Other processes can then use the memory that we just freed in the RAM.
Illustrative background for Move pages to RAMIllustrative background for Move pages to RAM ?? "content

Move pages to RAM

  • When we want to use a page again, we first need to move it back to the RAM.
  • We do this by swapping the page that we want with one that is already in the RAM.

Jump to other topics

1Components of a Computer

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.2Thinking Ahead

6.3Thinking Procedurally

6.4Thinking Logically

6.5Thinking Concurrently

7Problem Solving & Programming

8Algorithms

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium