Differentiate logical and physical address representations

Logical and physical addresses are two types of addresses used in networking and computer systems. Here's how they differ:

1. Logical Address:

   • A logical address is also known as a virtual address. It is generated by the CPU during a program’s execution.
   • It is a reference to a memory location independent of the actual physical layout of the memory.
   • This address is used in virtual memory systems, where memory management unit translates the logical address to a physical address.
   • Logical addresses allow for more efficient use of memory and easier memory protection.

2. Physical Address:

   • A physical address refers to a location in the physical memory (RAM) which is also known as the real address.
   • It is a memory address that is electronically (hardware) mapped to a physical location on the computer's memory.
   • The physical address is composed of a frame number and an offset.
   • The physical address is directly accessible by the memory unit and is used to store data and instructions.

In summary, the main difference between logical and physical addresses is that the logical address is generated by the CPU and is not directly accessible by the memory unit, while the physical address is a location in the physical memory that is directly accessible by the memory unit.