Description: The physical address space refers to the range of addresses that a process can use to access the physical memory of a system. In a computing environment, each process has its own address space, meaning it can access a series of memory addresses that are unique to it. This concept is fundamental to memory management in operating systems, as it allows multiple processes to run simultaneously without interfering with each other. Physical memory refers to the RAM (random access memory) installed in the computer’s hardware, and the physical address space is the representation of that memory in terms of addresses that can be used by processes. The translation of virtual addresses to physical addresses is managed by the operating system and hardware, often through a memory management unit (MMU). This allows operating systems to implement features such as virtual memory, where processes can use more memory than is physically available, thus improving efficiency and resource utilization of the system. In summary, the physical address space is an essential component in computer architecture, enabling the safe and efficient execution of multiple processes.
