What is virtual memory?

Virtual memory is a feature of an operating system (OS) that allows a computer to compensate for physical memory shortages by temporarily transferring data from random access memory (RAM) to disk storage. This process creates an illusion for users that there’s almost unlimited RAM in their system to run multiple applications and perform various tasks simultaneously.

Here’s how it works and why it’s important:

1. Extension of Physical Memory: Virtual memory allows your computer to use hard drive space as additional RAM. When the physical RAM is full, virtual memory moves less-used data to a space on the hard drive or SSD, known as the paging file or swap space.

2. Efficient Use of Memory: By using virtual memory, an operating system can ensure that the physical memory is used most efficiently. It prioritizes the memory usage for applications and processes currently in active use, keeping them in the physical RAM and moving less critical items to virtual memory.

3. Enables Multitasking: Virtual memory plays a critical role in enabling multitasking environments. It allows multiple programs to run at the same time, each operating within its own allocated space, without directly interfering with one another.

4. Memory Management: It provides an effective way for the OS to manage memory. Each program can be given its own virtual address space, improving security and stability by isolating programs from each other and from the operating system itself.

5. Improves System Responsiveness: By optimizing the utilization of physical RAM and ensuring that essential