What is the function of Virtual RAM?

Virtual RAM, also known as swap space or paging file, plays a crucial role in managing a computer's memory efficiently. Its primary function is to extend the amount of memory available by using a portion of the hard drive or SSD as if it were additional RAM. When the physical RAM is fully utilized or when memory-intensive applications are running, the operating system can transfer inactive data from RAM to this virtual memory space on the storage device. This process frees up physical RAM for currently active applications, allowing the system to handle more tasks simultaneously without running into memory limitations.

Using virtual RAM can significantly improve system stability and performance, especially on devices with limited physical memory. It enables users to run larger applications or multiple applications at once, even if the physical RAM is insufficient. However, because accessing data on storage media is slower than accessing data in RAM, relying too heavily on virtual memory can lead to performance issues, known as "thrashing."

In contrast to the other options, enhancing graphics performance relates to GPU functions, increasing physical RAM capacity is contingent on hardware upgrades, and storing firmware updates is a separate function pertaining to system stability and firmware management. Thus, the primary role of virtual RAM is indeed to swap unused app data to storage to free up RAM, making the