Description: Overcommit handling in operating system memory management refers to the strategies and techniques used to manage situations where the available physical memory is insufficient to meet all memory requests from running processes. This phenomenon occurs when more memory is allocated to processes than can actually be provided, potentially leading to degraded performance or system failures. Overcommit handling techniques include paging, segmentation, and the use of virtual memory, which allow operating systems to simulate a larger amount of memory than they actually have. These techniques enable processes to use disk space as an extension of RAM, thus facilitating the simultaneous execution of multiple applications. However, overcommitment must be managed carefully, as excessive use can result in increased latency and overall poor performance. A system’s ability to efficiently handle overcommitment is crucial for stability and operational efficiency, particularly in environments requiring high performance, such as server systems, databases, and intensive processing applications.
