The process of resuming operation after a computer has entered a low-power state, preserving the system’s current state by saving it to the hard drive, allows users to quickly return to their previous work. This functionality differs from sleep mode, which maintains the system state in RAM and consumes more power. A typical scenario involves pressing the power button or a designated key on the keyboard to initiate the restoration of the saved system state.
This feature is advantageous as it conserves energy and extends battery life in portable devices. Compared to a complete shutdown and restart, restoring from this state significantly reduces the time required to resume work, improving user productivity. Originally designed for laptops to conserve battery power, this capability has become a standard feature in modern desktop and mobile operating systems.