What is the function of virtual memory in an operating system?
a) It allows the system to execute processes that require more memory than is physically available
b) It allocates file system permissions
c) It manages user access to applications
d) It is a technique for scheduling processes
Answer:
a) It allows the system to execute processes that require more memory than is physically available
Explanation:
Virtual memory is a memory management technique that gives the operating system the ability to use hard disk space as an extension of physical RAM. This allows the system to run applications that require more memory than is physically available on the system.
With virtual memory, parts of a program not currently in use can be swapped out to disk, freeing up RAM for other active tasks. When those parts are needed again, they are swapped back into memory. This process is transparent to the user and provides greater flexibility in managing memory resources.
Virtual memory enables larger applications to run on systems with limited RAM and improves overall system performance by managing memory more efficiently.