![]() The result is that, although free storage is available, it is effectively unusable because it is divided into pieces that are too small individually to satisfy the demands of the application. It is a weakness of certain storage allocation algorithms, when they fail to order memory used by programs efficiently. For example, in dynamic memory allocation, memory pools drastically cut internal fragmentation by spreading the space overhead over a larger number of objects.Įxternal fragmentation arises when free memory is separated into small blocks and is interspersed by allocated memory. Unlike other types of fragmentation, internal fragmentation is difficult to reclaim usually the best way to remove it is with a design change. This waste is called internal fragmentation. This arrangement, termed fixed partitions, suffers from inefficient memory use - any process, no matter how small, occupies an entire partition. ![]() In this scenario, the unusable memory is contained within an allocated region. ![]() When this happens, the excess memory goes to waste. For example, memory can only be provided to programs in chunks (usually a multiple of 4 bytes), and as a result if a program requests perhaps 29īytes, it will actually get a chunk of 32 bytes. ĭue to the rules governing memory allocation, more computer memory is sometimes allocated than is needed. Memory paging creates internal fragmentation because an entire page frame will be allocated whether or not that much storage is needed. Analogous phenomena occur for other resources such as processors see below. Fragmentation is often accepted in return for improvements in speed or simplicity. There are three different but related forms of fragmentation: external fragmentation, internal fragmentation, and data fragmentation, which can be present in isolation or conjunction. Eventually, it may become impossible for the program to obtain large contiguous chunks of memory. Over time and with use, the long contiguous regions become fragmented into smaller and smaller contiguous areas. When a program is started, the free memory areas are long and contiguous. During its lifespan, a computer program can request and free many chunks of memory. The size and the amount of time a chunk is held by a program varies. When the computer program is finished with a chunk, it can free it back to the system, making it available to later be allocated again to another or the same program. In main memory fragmentation, when a computer program requests blocks of memory from the computer system, the blocks are allocated in chunks. In many cases, fragmentation leads to storage space being "wasted", and in that case the term also refers to the wasted space itself. The exact consequences of fragmentation depend on the specific system of storage allocation in use and the particular form of fragmentation. In computer storage, fragmentation is a phenomenon in which storage space, main storage or secondary storage, is used inefficiently, reducing capacity or performance and often both. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ( April 2011) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ![]() The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. As you can see, the lower half has other files and gaps in-between what should be a continuous blue section.ĭisk utilities, such as Microsoft Defrag, is used to help clean or organize file fragmentation and help keep file access faster.This article has an unclear citation style. The image below shows an example of file fragmentation. If the hard drive has to do this many files each time it's opened, it can decrease the computer's performance. If the gaps are too small, the remainder of what needs to be saved is stored in other available gaps.įragmentation causes slow access time because read/write head accessing the data must find all fragments of a file before it can be opened or executed. As new data is saved to the computer, it is placed in these gaps. Fragmentation is caused when information is deleted from a hard drive and small gaps are left behind to be filled by new data. Disk fragmentation or file fragmentation describes a group of files scattered throughout a hard drive platter instead of one continuous location. ![]()
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