Segmentation
Computer Science: OCR A Level, topic 2.1.4
Segmentation
Operating systems are responsible for managing memory for the user. Managing memory can be done by paging or by segmentation.
Segmentation
- There is no physical split in segmentation like in paging.
- Each program is given a logical division of memory to operate in.
Segmentation process
- When a program loads, it is given enough memory for the parts it is currently trying to load.
- The rest of the program is kept in storage until needed, but the logical section given to the program will need to be made bigger.
- Programs that are split across logical splits (non-contiguous) suffer greatly for not being together.
Virtual memory
- Segmentation can also use virtual memory to store unused parts of programs in virtual memory to free space for something else.
Test yourself on Segmentation
What kind of division of memory is used in segmentation?