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memory-managementx86memory-addressmemory-segmentationaddress-space

Linear address and physical address

What is linear address? How is it different from physical address?

Solution

  • Linear address is generated after before page table mapping. Physical addres is generated before after page table mapping(ie paging).

    Linear Adress,created by adding logical address to the base of segment, CS,DS,ES,SS,FSor GS.

    When Paging is enabled, the page tables are used to translate linear address to physical address.

    On the Other Hand, Physical Address is nothing but, the address value that appears on pins of processor during a memory read/memory write operations.

    InShort, we can say if paging is disabled linear address = physical address