what is inactive memory?

[abhishekit]

what is inactive ram it shows on the activity monitor..its usually a lot of ram...and why doesnt it include that in the free ram?

[Daveman Deluxe]

Inactive RAM is RAM that a process is no longer using but still has earmarked for that process. If another process needs that RAM, it can have it. Free RAM, on the other hand, is not claimed by any process.