Memory Management Unit (MMU) and Basic Memory Access

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The CPU you started building in the last chapter is blind without memory. It can execute instructions, but it can’t load programs, store data, or interact with any of the Game Boy’s peripherals like the screen or sound chip. This is where the Memory Management Unit (MMU) comes in.

This chapter guides you through creating the Game Boy’s core memory system, the Memory Management Unit (MMU). You’ll learn about the Game Boy’s memory map, how to model different memory regions, and implement the fundamental readByte and writeByte operations crucial for any emulator. By the end, your emulator will be able to load a Game Boy ROM into its virtual memory, a significant step towards running actual games.

Memory Map on AI VOID

Memory Management Unit (MMU) and Basic Memory Access