A segment descriptor is an entry in a processor table that defines the base address, size, and access privileges of a specific memory segment. The memory management unit reads this descriptor to map a program's logical address space into linear memory while enforcing security rules. It prevents user-level code from overwriting operating system memory.
The system threw a general protection fault because the segment descriptor was set to read-only.
Related terms
MMU
Memory management unit, a hardware component that translates virtual memory addresses into physical memory addresses.
Central processing unit
The primary silicon processor responsible for fetching, decoding, and executing instructions in a computer system.
Microprocessor
An integrated circuit that contains all the functions of a central processing unit.