AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is user space?
User space (also called Kernel space): The part of memory and execution where ordinary applications run with limited privileges, separated from the kernel. A program that misbehaves in user space cannot directly corrupt the kernel or other programs.
User space: an example
Your Python script runs in user space and must ask the kernel to open a file for it.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
- UTF-8
- Virtual machine
- Virtual memory
- Virtual private network
- Von Neumann architecture
- VRAM
- Wide area network
- x86
Where you learn it
User space is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.