What is virtual memory? Linux supports virtual memory, that is, using a disk as an extension of RAM so that the effective size of usable memory grows correspondingly. The kernel will write the contents of a currently unused block of memory to the hard disk so that the memory can be used for another purpose.

What is physical and virtual memory in Linux?

Physical and virtual memory are forms of memory (internal storage of data). Physical memory exists on chips (RAM memory) and on storage devices such as hard disks. … Virtual memory is a process whereby data (e.g., programming code,) can be rapidly exchanged between physical memory storage locations and RAM memory.

What is virtual memory in Linux top?

VIRtual column of the top, refers to the super-space (super consumption space) of the process, which the process might not be actually taking at the run time. There is another column RESident , which refers to the actual physical memory/space allocated by the process, at the runtime.