When should I use LRU caching?

What is LRU caching and when should I use it?

LRU stands for Least Recently Used. It's a caching algorithm that evicts the least recently accessed items first. You should use it when you have limited memory and need to keep frequently accessed data readily available.

Can you give me an example of when LRU caching would be beneficial?

Sure! LRU caching is beneficial in scenarios like web applications where user sessions or frequently accessed data need to be stored temporarily to improve performance.

Are there any downsides to using LRU caching?

Yes, one downside is that it can introduce overhead in maintaining the order of access, which may impact performance if not implemented efficiently.

How does LRU compare to other caching strategies?

LRU is often compared to FIFO (First In, First Out) and LFU (Least Frequently Used). LRU is generally more effective for workloads with temporal locality, while LFU may be better for stable access patterns.