4
What happens to RAM if a key is pressed on the computer for a long time? Example: computer has been turned on and a key is pressed these bytes are being read by the processor and written in memory, right?
1 answer
14
Depends on what’s running:
- nothing may happen at all
- it may be that the minimum occurs and it is doing it without occupying memory because the trigger provokes something only momentary
- it may take up to 1 byte each time it has a drive, which would take years to burst the typical memory of a computer, whereas virtual memory may take centuries, hypothetically
- It may be that a single key bursts the memory because it triggers actions that do a lot of things. That is, the "computer" does nothing specific, it depends on the program that is running decide what to do with this drive
If the computer’s just been turned on and it doesn’t even have an operating system, nothing will happen. If you have Windows and nothing else should happen either, Windows will process each drive and then discard, in a text editor you can burst the memory, but you can have protections against it. The code that is running will determine what to do.
The activation of the key will create what is called interrupt in the processor and this will cause a code execution to be diverted to a routine previously determined by some code, almost sure that it will be the operating system that determined which is this code (is a form of callback), at least it will be so on normal PC computers under appropriate conditions.
The operating system will determine what to do with this key. It can do something simple or complex because of this, it can for example delegate the drive to the applications that are running or to the application that is in the foreground only, and there is problem of the application what to do.
It may be that the application ignores this or it may be that it is not even prepared to receive this notification that a key has been triggered, and little will happen. Usually there is a limit to what can be pending and can refuse new drives or throw away the older ones, or still have another action, it is not something that works the same always. She accepting to receive this signal everything is possible to be done, the code can be well written or badly written and do something good or bad, occupy memory or not.
In short, the activation of the key has nothing to do directly with memory consumption.
Browser other questions tagged memory keyboard stack
You are not signed in. Login or sign up in order to post.
Did the answer solve your question? Do you think you can accept it? See [tour] if you don’t know how you do it. This would help a lot to indicate that the solution was useful for you. You can also vote on any question or answer you find useful on the entire site (when you have 15 points).
– Maniero