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User space and kernel space
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<p>A modern computer <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> usually uses <a href="/facts/Virtual_memory/Lw2GemF5">virtual memory</a> to provide separate address spaces or regions of a single address space, called user space and kernel space. This separation primarily provides <a href="/facts/Memory_protection/3zDwN2SG">memory protection</a> and hardware protection from malicious or errant software behaviour. </p><p> Kernel space is strictly reserved for running a privileged <a href="/facts/Operating_system_kernel/uEj4U3Rz">operating system kernel</a>, kernel extensions, and most <a href="/facts/Device_driver/rDYnHU1G">device drivers</a>. In contrast, user space is the memory area where <a href="/facts/Application_software/YQuj7Kog">application software</a> and some drivers execute, typically one address space per process. </p>