cache memory

In computing, a reserved area of the immediate access memory used to increase the running speed of a computer program.

The cache memory may be constructed from SRAM, which is faster but more expensive than the normal DRAM. Most programs access the same instructions or data repeatedly. If these frequently used instructions and data are stored in a fast-access SRAM memory cache, the program will run more quickly. In other cases, the memory cache is normal DRAM, but is used to store frequently used instructions and data that would normally be accessed from backing storage. Access to DRAM is faster than access to backing storage so, again, the program runs more quickly. This type of cache memory is often called a disk cache.