What is the purpose of segmented memory in 8086?

Segmented memory in the 8086 microprocessor allows for efficient organization and addressing of memory by dividing it into segments, such as code, data, and stack segments. This segmentation enables the CPU to access a larger memory space than what can be directly addressed by its 16-bit architecture, as each segment can be up to 64KB in size. It also facilitates memory protection and organization, allowing programs to manage different types of data and instructions more effectively. By using segment registers, the 8086 can quickly switch between different memory areas during program execution.