swap file

operating system A file used by a program or, more often,

an operating system as swap space. A swap file is usually

allocated as a long contiguous section of a hard disk to

reduce access time. The disk space used for a swap file can

not be used for other things. Under Microsoft Windows, swap

files are recommended not to exceed three times the available

RAM and are usually 150 percent of the RAM size.

(1996-11-15)