Memory segment
A memory segment is a variable-sized block of memory used in segmentation, an alternative to paging for memory management. Instead of dividing memory into fixed-size pages, segmentation divides memory into logically distinct sections, such as code, data, and stack segments. Each segment has a base address and a limit, defining its size and boundaries. The operating system and the Memory Management Unit (MMU) manage segment access using a segment table, which maps segment numbers to physical memory. Unlike paging, segmentation allows programs to organize memory based on logical structures rather than fixed-size blocks.