First Fit Algorithm in OS

July 29, 2023

First Fit in Operating System

The operating system uses different memory management schemes to optimize memory/resource block allocation to different processes. We will look at one of such memory allocation processes in OS called First Fit in Operating System. In this approach we allot the first available space that is large enough to accommodate the process.

Different types of Memory Allocations in OS?

The four most commonly used allocation schemes are

How first fit works?

Whenever a process (p1) comes with memory allocation request the following happens –

OS sequentially searches available memory blocks from the first index
Assigns the first memory block large enough to accommodate process

Whenever a new process P2 comes, it does the same thing. Search from the first index again.

Priority Scheduling

CPU Scheduling

FCFS Scheduling

Preemptive Scheduling

Working Example for First Fit

Example: As shown on the right/below image

Memory blocks available are : {100, 50, 30, 120, 35}

Process P1, size: 20

OS Searches memory from sequentially from starting
Block 1 fits, P1 gets assigned to block 1

Process P2, size: 60

OS Searches memory sequentially from block 1 again
Block 1 is unavailable, Block 2 and 3 can’t fit
Block 4 fits, p2 assigned to block 4

Process P3, size: 70

OS Searches memory sequentially from block 1 again
Block 1 is unavailable, Block 2, 3 can’t fit. Block 4 unavailable, Block 5 can’t fit
P3 remains unallocated

Similarly, P4 is assigned to block 2

Advantages

Easy to implement
OS can allocate processes quickly as algorithm to allocate processes will be quick as compared to other methods (Best Fit, Worst Fit, Next Fit etc)

Disadvantages

Causes huge internal fragmentation
Smarter allocation may be done by best-fit algorithm
High chances of unallocated for some processes due to poor algorithm
More overhead as compared to next fit

First Fit Programs

Program in C | C++ | Java | Python

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