In computer storage, fragmentation is a phenomenon in the computer system which entails the distribution of data in to smaller pieces which storage area, comparable to laptop Memory Wave Protocol or a tough drive, is used inefficiently, reducing capability or efficiency and sometimes each. The precise penalties of fragmentation rely on the specific system of storage allocation in use and the particular form of fragmentation. In lots of instances, fragmentation results in storage space being "wasted", and Memory Wave applications will are inclined to run inefficiently due to the scarcity of memory. In primary memory fragmentation, when a pc program requests blocks of memory from the computer system, the blocks are allotted in chunks. When the pc program is completed with a chunk, it will probably free it back to the system, making it accessible to later be allotted once more to another or the identical program. The size and the amount of time a chunk is held by a program varies. Throughout its lifespan, a pc program can request and free many chunks of memory.

Fragmentation can happen when a block of memory is requested by a program, and is allotted to that program, but this system has not freed it. This results in theoretically "obtainable", unused memory, being marked as allocated - which reduces the quantity of globally accessible memory, making it more durable for programs to request and access memory. When a program is began, the free memory areas are lengthy and contiguous. Over time and with use, the long contiguous regions develop into fragmented into smaller and smaller contiguous areas. Eventually, it may change into inconceivable for the program to acquire massive contiguous chunks of memory. There are three completely different however related forms of fragmentation: exterior fragmentation, inner fragmentation, and knowledge fragmentation, which could be current in isolation or conjunction. Fragmentation is commonly accepted in return for enhancements in speed or simplicity. Analogous phenomena happen for different assets such as processors