Editing User space and kernel space (section)

{{Short description|Way of using computer memory}} 
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A modern computer [[operating system]] usually uses [[virtual memory]] to provide separate address spaces or regions of a single address space, called '''user space and kernel space'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://linux-kernel-labs.github.io/refs/heads/master/lectures/address-space.html#address-space-options-for-32bit-systems|title=Address space|at=Address space options for 32bit systems}}</ref>{{efn|Older operating systems, such as [[DOS]] and [[Windows&nbsp;3.1x]], do not use this architecture.}} This separation primarily provides [[memory protection]] and hardware protection from malicious or errant software behaviour.

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Kernel space is strictly reserved for running a privileged [[operating system kernel]], kernel extensions, and most [[device driver]]s. In contrast, user space is the memory area where [[application software]] and some drivers execute, typically one address space per process.