Overview

Paging is the most common method of implementing virtual memory. It divides the virtual address space into fixed-size blocks called 'pages' and physical memory into blocks called 'frames.'

How it Works

When a program needs a page that is not in RAM, a 'page fault' occurs, and the operating system retrieves the page from the disk and places it into an available frame in RAM.

Advantage

Allows memory to be allocated non-contiguously, reducing fragmentation and making it easier for the OS to manage memory for multiple processes.

Related Terms