What is an LRU cache and how is it used in real-world applications?

What is an LRU cache and how is it used in real-world applications?

An LRU (Least Recently Used) cache is a data structure that stores a limited number of items and evicts the least recently accessed item when it reaches its capacity. It's commonly used in scenarios like web browsers for caching web pages, databases for query results, and operating systems for managing memory.

Can you give me an example of where LRU caching is applied?

Sure! One common example is in web browsers. When you visit a website, the browser caches the page content. If you revisit the site, the browser can quickly load it from the cache instead of fetching it again from the server, improving load times.

What are the advantages of using an LRU cache?

The main advantages include improved performance due to faster data retrieval, reduced latency, and efficient memory usage by keeping only the most relevant data in memory.

Are there any downsides to using an LRU cache?

Yes, some downsides include the overhead of maintaining the cache, potential cache thrashing if the data access pattern is unpredictable, and the need for careful tuning of cache size to balance memory usage and performance.