Managed Heap

What Does Managed Heap Mean?

A managed heap is a structure for handling address spaces created by processes at runtime. These address spaces, when handled in certain ways within an operating system, are called a managed heap. Microsoft’s .NET framework uses a managed heap model as part of its automatic memory management process.

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Techopedia Explains Managed Heap

The managed heap is contrasted with an unmanaged heap, where developers may need to personally assign memory and otherwise handle address spaces. In a managed heap, other parts of automatic memory management include a specific algorithm where a garbage collector will assess parts of the address space to determine what parts are being used and what parts can be released and re-allocated.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…