Memory management in embedded systems is a critical aspect of system design that ensures efficient use of limited hardware resources. Unlike general-purpose systems, embedded devices often have constrained memory, both in terms of RAM and ROM, and need to manage it carefully to maintain performance and stability.
There are two primary types of memory used: volatile memory (RAM) for temporary data storage and non-volatile memory (such as Flash or EEPROM) for storing code and persistent data. Memory management involves allocation, protection, and release of memory blocks as the system operates. It may use either static memory allocation (at compile-time) or dynamic allocation (at runtime), depending on the application and system design.
In real-time systems, deterministic behavior is crucial, so dynamic memory allocation is often avoided due to risks like fragmentation and unpredictable timing. Developers use memory pools, stack and heap separation, and direct memory access (DMA) to enhance performance and predictability. Additionally, tools such as memory maps and debuggers help detect memory leaks or overflows during development.
Understanding these principles is essential for building reliable and efficient embedded applications.
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