Caching is a technique used in computing to store copies of data in a temporary storage location, known as a cache, to enable faster access to that data in the future. This process helps improve the performance of applications and systems by reducing the time it takes to retrieve data from slower storage media or to recompute results.
Key Points about Caching:
Definition:
Caching involves storing data temporarily in a high-speed storage layer, such as RAM, to serve future requests for that data more quickly than accessing the primary storage location[1][2][4][5].
Purpose:
The primary purpose of caching is to enhance performance by reducing latency and improving data retrieval times. It helps in minimizing the load on primary data sources like databases or web servers[1][2][4][5].
How It Works:
When a request for data is made, the system first checks the cache. If the data is found (a cache hit), it is retrieved from the cache, which is faster. If the data is not found (a cache miss), it is fetched from the primary storage, stored in the cache for future requests, and then returned to the requester[1][2][4][5].
Types of Caching:
CPU Cache: Small, high-speed memory located on the CPU to store frequently accessed data and instructions.
In-Memory Cache: Uses RAM to store data for quick access, often used by applications and databases.
Disk Cache: Stores data that has been recently read from or written to a disk.
Browser Cache: Stores web content like HTML, CSS, and images to speed up webpage loading.
CDN Cache: Content Delivery Networks store copies of web content in multiple locations to reduce latency and improve load times for users globally[2][4][5][9][12].
Benefits:
Performance Improvement: Faster data access leads to improved application performance.
Reduced Load: Decreases the load on primary data sources, which can...
