In computers, a cache is a high-speed access area that can either be a storage device or a reserved portion of main memory. The two commonly used types of caching are memory caching and disk caching. Most modern computers are equipped with an L3 or L2 cache, while older ones come with an L1 cache. Some memory caches are incorporated into the architecture of microprocessors. An L2 cache, which is an external cache, sits between the central processing unit, or CPU, and the dynamic RAM, or DRAM.
A cache memory is a section of main memory that uses the high-speed SRAM instead of the slower and cheaper DRAM. Memory caching significantly reduces the amount of time in accessing programs or instructions by storing all these information in the SRAM. Once a user accesses an already stored information, data retrieval is faster because the computer does not need to access the slower DRAM.
There are some downsides in using cache memory. Among these include that cache memory has a limited capacity and it is very costly.Learn more about Computers & Hardware