What is the use of Virtual memory?

The correct answer is Enabling computers to make up for physical memory limitations.

Key Points

• Virtual memory is a memory management capability of an operating system (OS) that uses hardware and software to allow a computer to compensate for physical memory shortages.
• It enables a computer to use more memory than is physically available by temporarily transferring data from random access memory (RAM) to disk storage.
• Virtual memory creates an illusion for users of a very large (main) memory.
• This process is known as "paging" where the OS retrieves data from secondary storage (like a hard drive or SSD) and places it into RAM when needed.
• It allows for the execution of large applications or multiple applications simultaneously without being limited by the actual physical memory installed in the computer.

Additional Information

• Virtual memory helps in multitasking by providing memory space for running multiple programs concurrently.
• It enhances system stability and performance by efficiently managing memory allocation and deallocation.
• Virtual memory can also improve security by isolating different processes, preventing them from interfering with each other.
• The concept of virtual memory was developed in the 1960s to address the limitations of physical memory and to improve the efficiency of computer systems.