Why is it important for processes to be isolated in main memory?

The importance of process isolation in main memory primarily revolves around the need to prevent access to other processes' memory. This is a fundamental security feature of modern operating systems that helps maintain the integrity and confidentiality of data being used by different applications. When processes are properly isolated, one process cannot directly access or interfere with the memory space of another process.

This isolation fosters a secure environment where individual processes can operate without risk of unintended interactions, such as data corruption or unauthorized access to sensitive information. If processes could freely access each other's memory, malicious programs could easily exploit this vulnerability to steal data, modify critical information, or introduce stability and security issues within the operating system.

Effective process isolation is key in implementing multitasking environments, allowing the operating system to manage multiple applications simultaneously while ensuring that each runs in its own protected memory space. This capability enhances the robustness of the overall system security by limiting the potential damage that could arise from a compromised process.