In operating systems for personal computers, procedures for optimizing the use
of RAM (random access memory). These procedures include selectively storing
data, monitoring it carefully, and freeing memory when the data is no longer
needed. Most current operating systems optimize RAM usage on their own; some
older operating systems, such as early versions of MS-DOS, required the use of
third-party utilities to optimize RAM usage and necessitated that the user be
more knowledgeable about how the operating system and applications used memory.
See also
memory management unit, RAM. 2. In programming, the process of ensuring that a program
releases each chunk of memory when it is no longer needed. In some languages,
such as C and C++, the programmer must keep track of memory usage by the
program. Java, a newer language, automatically frees any chunk of memory that is
not in use. See
also C, C++, garbage collection, Java.
Memory management program :- A program used to store data and programs in system memory, monitor their use, and reassign the freed space following their execution. 2. A program that uses hard disk space as an extension of the random access memory RAM.
Memory management unit :-The hardware that supports the mapping of virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses. In some systems, such as those based on the 68020, the memory management unit is separate from the processor. In most modern microcomputers, however, the memory management unit is built into the CPU chip. In some systems, the memory management unit provides interfacing between the microprocessor and memory. This type of memory management unit is typically responsible for address multiplexing and, in the case of DRAMs, the refresh cycle. Acronym: MMU. See also physical address, refresh cycle, virtual address.
Memory management program :- A program used to store data and programs in system memory, monitor their use, and reassign the freed space following their execution. 2. A program that uses hard disk space as an extension of the random access memory RAM.
Memory management unit :-The hardware that supports the mapping of virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses. In some systems, such as those based on the 68020, the memory management unit is separate from the processor. In most modern microcomputers, however, the memory management unit is built into the CPU chip. In some systems, the memory management unit provides interfacing between the microprocessor and memory. This type of memory management unit is typically responsible for address multiplexing and, in the case of DRAMs, the refresh cycle. Acronym: MMU. See also physical address, refresh cycle, virtual address.