What is DMA (Direct Memory Access)?

DMA (Direct Memory Access) is a feature of computer systems that allows certain hardware subsystems to access system memory (RAM) independently of the CPU. It enables efficient data transfer between peripherals (such as disk drives, network interfaces, and sound cards) and memory without involving the CPU in every data transfer operation. DMA improves overall system performance by reducing CPU overhead and allowing concurrent data transfers, thereby speeding up data-intensive operations like file copying and network communication.