PFN Meaning and
Definition
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PFN stands for "Page Frame Number." It refers to a unique identifier assigned to physical memory pages or frames in a computer system. In virtual memory management, physical memory is divided into fixed-sized blocks called pages or frames, and each page is assigned a PFN.
The PFN serves as an index or mapping that enables the operating system to access and manipulate physical memory locations directly. It acts as a key component in the page table data structure that links virtual addresses to physical addresses. When a process requests a specific virtual memory page for execution, the page table is consulted, and the corresponding PFN is used to identify the physical memory frame that holds the requested page.
PFN plays a crucial role in managing memory allocation, paging, and swapping. By using PFNs, the operating system can seamlessly map virtual memory to physical memory and efficiently allocate resources to processes running on the system.
PFN values are typically stored and interpreted within the kernel of an operating system, as they are internal identifiers used by the memory management unit (MMU) for translation purposes. They are commonly used in operating systems with virtual memory support, such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, to manage the available physical memory efficiently and provide a virtualized memory environment for executing processes.
Common Misspellings for PFN
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