Memory Management: Address Space Abstraction

This lecture covers the concept of address space abstraction in computer systems, focusing on memory management. It begins by defining a memory address as the location of a byte in memory, emphasizing that most machines are byte addressable. The instructor explains the logical view of a process's memory layout, which includes segments such as the stack, heap, data, and text. The stack is described as a dynamic data structure that grows from high to low addresses, storing temporary data like function parameters and local variables. The heap, in contrast, grows from low to high addresses and is used for dynamic memory allocation during program execution. The importance of dynamic memory allocation is highlighted, particularly in relation to unknown input sizes and recursive functions. The lecture also discusses the implementation of the heap, including allocation strategies and the interaction between the heap and the operating system through system calls. Overall, the lecture provides a comprehensive overview of how memory is organized and managed in computer systems.