What is the Difference Between Paging and Segmentation?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Paging and segmentation are two methods used for memory management in computer systems. They differ in several aspects:
- Size of memory units: In paging, the program is divided into fixed-size pages, while in segmentation, the program is divided into variable-size sections.
- Responsibility: In paging, the operating system is responsible for managing memory, while in segmentation, the compiler is responsible.
- Speed: Paging is generally faster than segmentation in terms of memory access.
- Fragmentation: Paging can lead to internal fragmentation, while segmentation can lead to external fragmentation.
- Address space: In paging, the user provides a single integer as the address, while in segmentation, there is the availability of many independent address spaces.
- Hardware support: Paging is widely available on CPUs and as MMU chips, while segmentation has limited support on some systems.
In summary, paging and segmentation are both used for memory management, but they differ in the size of memory units, who is responsible for managing memory, speed of memory access, fragmentation, address space, and hardware support.
Comparative Table: Paging vs Segmentation
Here is a table comparing the differences between paging and segmentation:
Feature | Paging | Segmentation |
---|---|---|
Memory Division | Fixed-size blocks for both physical and logical memory | Variable-sized blocks for logical memory |
Speed | Faster | Slower |
Fragmentation | Internal fragmentation in paging | External fragmentation in segmentation |
Address Space | One-dimensional address space | Many independent address spaces |
Hardware Support | Less hardware support | More hardware support |
Sharing of Procedures | Does not facilitate sharing | Allows for sharing |
Security | Fails to distinguish and secure procedures and data separately | Can separate secure procedures and data |
Page/Segment Size | Fixed block size | Variable size |
Main Memory Division | Divides main memory into small fixed-size blocks called frames | Divides main memory into variable-sized segments |
Secondary Memory Division | Divides secondary memory into fixed-size partitions called pages | Divides secondary memory into variable-sized partitions called segments |
Page/Segment Table | Page table stores page data | Segment table stores segment data |
Offset Calculation | Processor needs page number and offset to calculate absolute address | Processor uses segment number and offset to calculate full address |
User Visibility | Invisible to the user | Visible to the user |
Frame/Segment Management | Operating system maintains a free frame list | Operating system maintains a list of holes in the main memory |
In summary, paging uses fixed-size blocks for both physical and logical memory, while segmentation uses variable-sized blocks for logical memory, allowing for more flexibility in memory allocation. Paging is faster compared to segmentation, but it can result in internal fragmentation, while segmentation can result in external fragmentation. Paging is invisible to the user, while segmentation is visible.
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