Memory segmentation
lastmod 2024-06-03created 2016-11-284 edits
(For the technique used in image processing to segment object regions, see Image segmentation.)
Memory segmentation is one of the most common ways to implement memory protection. Another is paging. In a computer system that uses segmentation, an instruction operand that refers to a memory location includes values that identify a segment and an offset within that segment.
This use should not be confused with the use of memory segments in early x86 processors such as the Intel 8086 and Intel 8088, because they provided no protection at all. (Any program could easily access any segment without restriction, and a segment consisted only of a starting location and a fixed length of 64 KiB.) Memory segmentation from the Intel 80286 onward provides protection.
Categories
- Segmentation fault
- Virtual memory
- Virtual address space
- Processor register (CPU:Register)