Description: Allocation overhead refers to the additional time and resources required to manage memory allocation in computer systems. This phenomenon occurs when a system needs to perform extra tasks to manage memory, such as fragmentation, searching for available memory blocks, and updating allocation tables. Overhead can be significant in systems where memory management is complex, such as in multitasking environments or in systems that use advanced memory management techniques like paging or segmentation. Efficiency in memory management is crucial for the overall performance of the system, as high overhead can lead to inefficient resource usage, affecting the execution speed of applications and the system’s responsiveness. Therefore, system designers must balance the complexity of memory management with the need to minimize overhead, seeking solutions that optimize memory usage without compromising performance. In summary, allocation overhead is a critical aspect of memory management that directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of computer systems.
