Definition
Swapping
Swapping moves entire processes between RAM and secondary storage when active processes exceed available memory. Foundation of the Seven-State Process Model.
Mechanism
Swap Out
Moving a process image from RAM to disk.
Swap In
Moving a process image from disk back to RAM to resume execution.
Causes
Memory Overload
Too many processes in Ready state causing thrashing.
Long-term Blocking
Process waiting for long-duration I/O is a prime swap candidate.
Parent Request
Parent process requests to suspend a child for debugging or coordination.
User Request
User suspending a background job.