What is the LRU algorithm and how does it compare to other caching algorithms?

What is the LRU algorithm and how does it work?

The LRU (Least Recently Used) algorithm is a caching strategy that evicts the least recently accessed items first. It keeps track of the order in which items are accessed to determine which one to remove when the cache is full.

How does LRU compare to FIFO and LFU algorithms?

LRU is generally more efficient than FIFO (First In, First Out) because it considers usage patterns, while FIFO simply removes the oldest item. LFU (Least Frequently Used) focuses on access frequency, which can be beneficial in certain scenarios, but LRU often performs better in dynamic environments.

Can you give an example of when to use LRU over FIFO?

Sure! LRU is ideal for applications where recent access patterns are a good predictor of future access, like web browsers caching recently visited pages. FIFO might be better for simpler scenarios where access patterns are less predictable.

What are the drawbacks of using the LRU algorithm?

One drawback of LRU is that it can require more memory to track the order of accesses, and it may not perform well in cases where access patterns are highly irregular.