swapfile

noun

UK /ˈswɒpfaɪl/

US /ˈswɑːpfaɪl/

A swapfile is a special file on a computer that acts like extra memory when the computer runs out of space to think.

When the computer got slow, it used the swapfile to keep things running.

SYNONYMS

page file paging file virtual memory file swap space swap partition

RELATED WORDS

memory RAM hard drive operating system virtual memory

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A file used by an operating system to store inactive memory pages on disk.

The system administrator increased the swapfile size to prevent crashes.

3. A temporary file created during a software build or installation to hold data being swapped in and out.

The installer wrote a swapfile to the temp directory while unpacking the archive.

4. In some Unix-like systems, a dedicated file configured with mkswap and swapon for paging.

They enabled the swapfile with swapon after creating it.