What is the role of memory management in an operating system?

Memory management is a crucial component of an operating system, primarily responsible for optimizing memory usage across applications. This involves keeping track of each byte in a computer's memory and ensuring that running applications can efficiently access the memory they need while also preventing issues like memory leaks and fragmentation.

When an application is running, it requires a certain amount of memory space to operate. The memory management system allocates this space, allowing applications to store data temporarily and access it as needed. Effective memory management ensures that the available memory is used to its fullest potential, allowing multiple applications to run smoothly and concurrently without interfering with each other.

In addition to allocating and deallocating memory, this function also includes mechanisms for swapping data in and out of physical memory and managing virtual memory. This is essential for multitasking environments, where several applications may be running simultaneously. By optimizing memory resources, the operating system plays a key role in maintaining overall system performance and stability.

The other roles mentioned in the other answers focus on different aspects of the operating system's responsibilities. Handling external device interactions pertains to input/output management, processing user inputs relates to user interface management, and increasing CPU processing speed falls under performance enhancements—none of which directly encompass the specific role played by memory management.