AllocatedButNotCommitted

"AllocatedButNotCommitted" is a term used in the context of memory management, particularly in operating systems and virtual memory systems. It refers to a state where memory has been allocated to a process but has not yet been committed to physical storage. This allocation is often done to reserve a block of memory for future use, ensuring that the process has the necessary space when it needs it.

In virtual memory systems, this concept is crucial for managing memory efficiently. When a process requests memory, the operating system may allocate a virtual address space but not immediately commit it to physical RAM. This allows the system to overcommit memory, meaning it can allocate more virtual memory than is physically available, as not all allocated memory will be used simultaneously.

The term "AllocatedButNotCommitted" is often used in the context of Windows operating systems, where it is a specific state in the VirtualAlloc function. This function can allocate memory without committing it, allowing the process to reserve memory for future use without immediately using physical RAM.

This approach can improve performance and efficiency by delaying the commitment of memory until it is actually needed. However, it also introduces complexity in memory management, as the system must track which parts of the allocated memory have been committed and which have not.