ARCHIVED: What is virtual memory?

Virtual memory is a method of making a computer seem to have more Random Access Memory (RAM) than it actually does. By reallocating available disk space, the operating system of the computer transparently swaps chunks of memory to and from the hard disk.

The advantage of doing this is that larger application programs can be loaded, more applications can be used simultaneously, and the programs have more space to store their data. A drawback of virtual memory is that it slows down system operation and is limited to the amount of disk space that is free on the system. Most modern computer operating systems use virtual memory.

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