What is cache memory?

Cache memory refers to high-speed memory in the central processing unit, or CPU, of a computer that allows the CPU to retrieve data quickly from the Internet. The CPU is a key piece of hardware within a computer that aids in the basic operation of the machine.

Cache memory also contains copies of data that are frequently used in a computer, so that the data can be accessed faster. This is often accomplished by the function of short loops within the program structure. There are many cache levels within a CPU, with some devoted to data and others devoted to instruction. Typically, data is structured in a hierarchy.