is a vital component in a computer's memory hierarchy, designed to improve system performance by reducing the involved in accessing data from the primary memory, such as . It operates on the principle of storing frequently accessed data, or "", closer to the processor for faster retrieval. When a requested piece of data is not found in cache, it results in a cache miss, necessitating a longer latency as the processor accesses the data from the main memory.
RAM, or random-access memory, is the primary of a computer, responsible for storing data and instructions that can be directly accessed by the processor. Larger and faster than cache memory, RAM offers a more extensive storage capacity but incurs higher latency. It acts as an intermediary between the processor and secondary storage devices, such as hard drives or solid-state drives.
is a technique that enables the operating system to use the hard disk in combination with RAM. It serves as an extension to the physical RAM and allows for the creation of a larger effective memory space than physically available. Virtual memory management involves paging in and out data between the RAM and disk, optimizing system performance by actively swapping data between the two regions.
refers to memory that can retain data even when the power is turned off, such as solid-state drives or flash memory. Unlike volatile memory, like cache or RAM, which loses its contents when power is interrupted, non-volatile memory presents a persistent storage solution.
, also known as a swap file or page file, is a reserved section of a hard disk drive that serves as an extension of RAM. When the physical memory is insufficient to handle all the running processes, the operating system moves less frequently used data from RAM to the swap space, freeing up space for more critical tasks. Swap space allows systems to efficiently manage memory requirements and avoid crashes or system slowdowns due to memory contention.
