Section: IT & Technology · Operating SystemsDifficulty: Medium
Cache Memory
USUK
High-speed memory that stores frequently accessed data close to the CPU.
Also: L1 cache · L2 cache · L3 cache
Definition
Cache memory is a small, fast memory layer situated between the CPU and main RAM that stores copies of frequently accessed data and instructions. Organized in levels (L1, L2, L3) with L1 being fastest and smallest, cache dramatically reduces the time the processor spends waiting for data. Cache hit rate is a key performance metric; a high hit rate means most data requests are served from cache rather than slower RAM or disk.
Example
“When compiling code repeatedly, the compiler's frequently-used functions are cached in L2 or L3 cache, reducing build times significantly.”
Synonyms
- CPU cache
- L1/L2/L3 cache
- processor cache
- high-speed memory
Antonyms / Opposites
- RAM
- main memory
- disk storage
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Related Terms
- microprocessor
- virtual-memory
- garbage-collection
- kernel