What is memory thrashing?

Memory thrashing occurs when a computer's operating system spends a significant amount of time swapping data between RAM and disk storage instead of executing application processes. This typically happens when there is insufficient physical memory available to support the active programs, leading to excessive paging or swapping. As a result, system performance degrades, with increased latency and a noticeable slowdown in responsiveness. Effective memory management and upgrading hardware can help mitigate thrashing.