buddyallokering

Buddy allocation is a memory management technique used in computer operating systems. It is a form of dynamic memory allocation that aims to reduce external fragmentation. The core idea behind buddy allocation is to divide memory into blocks of power-of-two sizes. When a request for memory arrives, the algorithm finds the smallest available block that is large enough to satisfy the request. If no exact match is found, it splits a larger block into two equal halves, known as "buddies." One of these buddies is then used for the allocation, and the other is returned to the free list. Conversely, when a block is deallocated, the algorithm checks if its buddy is also free. If both buddies are free, they are merged back into a single, larger block. This merging process helps to consolidate free memory and combat external fragmentation. The size of the smallest allocatable block is a parameter that can be adjusted, affecting the trade-off between internal fragmentation and the overhead of managing smaller blocks. Buddy allocation is known for its relatively fast allocation and deallocation times, making it suitable for systems with frequent memory requests and releases. However, it can suffer from internal fragmentation, where a block is allocated but not fully utilized.