system> To move a program from fast-access memory to a slow-access memory ("swap out"), or vice versa ("swap in"). The term often refersspecifically to the use of a hard disk (or a swap file) asvirtual memory or "swap space". When a program is to be executed, possibly as determined by a scheduler, it isswapped into core for processing when it can no longer continue executing for some reason, or the scheduler decides itstime slice has expired, it isswapped out again. This contrasts with "paging" systems in which only parts of a program' s memory is transfered. [Jargon File] (1996-11-22)