You are here: irt.org | FOLDOC | cache line
<storage> (Or cache block) The smallest unit of memory than can be transferred between the main memory and the cache.
Rather than reading a single word or byte from main memory at a time, each cache entry is usually holds a certain number of words, known as a "cache line" or "cache block" and a whole line is read and cached at once. This takes advantage of the principle of locality of reference: if one location is read then nearby locations (particularly following locations) are likely to be read soon afterward. It can also take advantage of page-mode DRAM which allows faster access to consecutive locations.
(1997-01-21)
Nearby terms: cache conflict « cache consistency « cache hit « cache line » cache memory » cache miss » Cache On A STick
FOLDOC, Topics, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, ?, ALL