Memory leak is a condition where computer memory is lost due to malfunctioning programs. It can be caused by any program, including essential operating system files, and can eventually cripple a system. Operating systems and antivirus software can help prevent and deal with memory leaks.
Memory leak refers to a condition in which there appears to be an incremental but constant loss of computer memory. Usually, the root cause of this condition has to do with one or more programs malfunctioning. Essentially, the program fails to release memory that is no longer being used into the available memory pool. The result is that used memory is not freed up for use by other computer programs and thus decreases the operating capacity of the computer.
Almost any type of program can be a source of memory leak. In some cases, it may be an application program, such as a database, that resides on your hard drive. Other times, the cause of the memory leak could be one of the essential program files that drive the computer’s operating system. Typically, the malfunction within the application is the result of some sort of invasion into the actual program, such as a virus or bug.
Even when the memory leak is relatively small, it can eventually cripple a system. Each time the infected application runs, the application acquires more free memory and never returns that amount of memory to the system. Over time, the amount of available memory becomes so limited that other applications are unable to obtain resources to start or perform necessary functions and start to become unusable. The end result is that the system simply shuts down and no applications can run.
Many operating systems today include programming that automatically scans for a memory leak and alerts the user to the problem. Additionally, a number of antivirus software programs today include components that will identify bugs or viruses that can cause a loss and destroy them before there’s a chance the problem does much damage. Both approaches are very helpful in preventing and dealing with memory leak cases.
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