What are the differences between memoization and caching?

What are the differences between memoization and caching?

Memoization is a specific optimization technique used to speed up function calls by storing previously computed results, while caching is a broader concept that involves storing data to reduce access time for future requests.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In memoization, if you have a recursive function to calculate Fibonacci numbers, it stores results of previous calculations. In caching, a web application might store user session data to quickly retrieve it without querying the database again.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Yes, memoization can significantly improve performance for recursive functions with overlapping subproblems, while caching is more about reducing latency for data retrieval in general applications.

When should I use memoization over caching?

Use memoization when dealing with pure functions and recursive calls, and opt for caching when you need to store data that is expensive to fetch or compute, regardless of the function.