The memory management unit (MMU) manages computer memory and is integrated into the CPU. It allocates memory from the operating system to applications and uses virtual memory when RAM runs out. The MMU also manages memory resources for programs and detects when data is no longer needed. Inefficient memory management can impact computer performance.
The computer hardware responsible for managing the computer’s memory system is called a memory management unit (MMU). This component acts as a buffer between the CPU and system memory. The functions performed by the memory management unit can typically be divided into three areas: hardware memory management, operating system memory management, and application memory management. While the memory management unit may be a separate chip component, it is usually integrated into the central processing unit (CPU).
Typically, hardware associated with memory management includes random access memory (RAM) and memory caches. RAM is the physical storage compartment found on the hard drive. It is the main storage area of the computer where data is read and written. Memory caches are used to hold copies of certain data from main memory. The CPU accesses this information held in memory cache, which helps speed up processing time.
When physical memory, or RAM, runs out of memory space, the computer automatically uses virtual memory from the hard drive to run the requested program. The memory management unit allocates memory from the operating system to various applications. The virtual address area, which is located within the central processing unit, consists of a range of addresses divided into pages. Pages are blocks of secondary storage of equal size. The automated paging process allows the operating system to use the storage space scattered on the hard drive.
Instead of the user receiving an error message that there is not enough memory, the MMU automatically instructs the system to create enough virtual memory to run the application. Contiguous virtual memory space is created from a pool of equally sized virtual memory blocks for application execution. This feature is an important key to making this process work effectively and efficiently because the system is not required to create a block of virtual memory to handle program requirements. Creating various sizes of memory space to accommodate programs of different sizes causes a problem known as fragmentation. This could lead to the possibility of not having enough free space for larger programs when the total available space is actually sufficient.
Application memory management involves the process of allocating the memory needed to run a program from available memory resources. On larger operating systems, many copies of the same application can be running. The memory management unit often assigns an application the memory address that best fits its needs. It is easier to give these programs the same addresses. In addition, the memory management unit can allocate memory resources to programs on an as-needed basis. Once the operation is complete, the memory is recycled for use elsewhere.
One of the main challenges for the memory management unit is to detect when data is no longer needed and can be deleted. This frees up memory for use by other processes. Automatic and manual memory management has become a separate field of study due to this issue. Inefficient memory management is a big problem when it comes to optimal performance of computer systems.
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