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Page table
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<p>A page table is a <a href="/facts/Data_structure/yNsNvL1I">data structure</a> used by a <a href="/facts/Virtual_memory/Lw2GemF5">virtual memory</a> system in a <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a> to store mappings between <a href="/facts/Virtual_address/ILxbMjgv">virtual addresses</a> and <a href="/facts/Physical_address/G01PUI6A">physical addresses</a>. Virtual addresses are used by the program executed by the accessing <a href="/facts/Process_(computing)/Vcq7EnUV">process</a>, while physical addresses are used by the hardware, or more specifically, by the <a href="/facts/Random-access_memory/DuD4bxh6">random-access memory</a> (RAM) subsystem. The page table is a key component of <a href="/facts/Virtual_address_translation/Lw2GemF5">virtual address translation</a> that is necessary to access <a href="/facts/Data_(computing)/cPjfFHph">data</a> in memory. The page table is set up by the computer's <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a>, and may be read and written during the virtual address translation process by the <a href="/facts/Memory_management_unit/tJQtAQzI">memory management unit</a> or by low-level system software or firmware. </p>