MMU stands for Memory Management Unit. It is a hardware component in computer systems that manages the virtual memory. A memory management unit is responsible for handling the translation of virtual addresses to physical addresses and implementing memory protection mechanisms.
In modern computer architectures, virtual memory allows the operating system to allocate memory beyond the available physical memory. The MMU plays a crucial role in this process by translating the virtual addresses used by programs into physical addresses in actual memory. This translation is based on a mapping table or page tables maintained by the operating system.
The MMU also enforces memory protection by assigning access permissions to different memory regions. It ensures that each memory location can only be accessed by authorized processes, protecting the stability and security of the system. Additionally, it handles the management of memory pages such as allocating and freeing memory as needed.
By implementing virtual memory management, MMUs enhance the efficiency and flexibility of computer systems. They enable multiple processes to share the same physical memory while maintaining isolation and security. MMUs also aid in optimizing memory usage by employing techniques like memory paging, caching, and swapping.
Overall, the Memory Management Unit is a key component in computer architecture responsible for managing virtual memory, translating virtual addresses to physical addresses, enforcing memory protection, and optimizing memory usage.
