How does a computer system handle memory allocation and deallocation?
How does a computer system handle memory allocation and deallocation?
Ask by Revati S Misra
Updated 08 May 2023
Computer systems use memory management techniques to handle memory allocation and deallocation. Memory management is the process of managing a computer's memory resources to meet the needs of various applications and users.
Memory allocation involves allocating a block of memory of a particular size to the program or process that needs it. This can be done in various ways, such as:
In this technique, memory is allocated to a program or process at compile or load time.
This method allocates memory for a program or process at run time using memory allocation functions such as malloc(), calloc(), or new. Memory deallocation is the process of freeing memory no longer needed by a program or process. This is typically done using functions such as free() and delete. These functions return blocks of memory to the operating system's available memory pool.
Memory allocation and deallocation is managed by the operating system. The operating system keeps track of available memory and allocates blocks of memory to processes as needed. The operating system also sets limits and permissions on the memory block allocated to each process to prevent memory from being overwritten or accessed in an inappropriate way.
Modern operating systems can also use techniques such as virtual memory and paging to manage memory more efficiently. Virtual memory allows a program or process to access memory that is not physically present in your computer's RAM. Paging, on the other hand, allows you to temporarily store some of your program's memory on your hard drive or solid state drive (SSD). RAM with disk space is available.
Overall, memory allocation and deallocation are critical functions of a computer system and are carefully managed by the operating system to ensure efficient and safe use of system resources.