MemoryInfo

Memory information, or memoryinfo, is a generic term for data about a system's memory resources. It includes physical RAM, virtual memory, and swap usage, plus how memory is currently allocated among running processes and the kernel. Memory information is commonly exposed by the operating system to support monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimization.

Common metrics include total memory, free memory, available memory (memory that can be allocated without swapping), used memory, buffers and cached memory, and swap totals and usage. Different systems present these values under different names and units, but the concepts are similar. In Linux, /proc/meminfo provides a snapshot of many of these fields; Windows exposes memory performance counters; macOS reports memory statistics via vm_stat, sysctl, or Activity Monitor. Mobile platforms often provide APIs such as Android’s MemoryInfo or iOS equivalents for app-level memory data.

Uses include capacity planning, performance tuning, and debugging memory-related issues such as leaks or thrashing. Developers may use memoryinfo data to tune caching, adjust memory-heavy configurations, or trigger warnings when memory pressure becomes high. Administrators monitor memoryinfo to detect bottlenecks and ensure system stability.

Notes: memory values are dynamic and depend on what is counted (free vs available vs cached). Caches can be released if needed, so a higher free number today does not necessarily indicate a problem. Interpreting memory information requires context about workload and system configuration.