How Does a Cache Work?

A cache is a pretty simple concept that shows up in a lot of different areas in computing. In almost all cases, a cache serves basically one main purpose. The key idea is to speed up access to data that is needed frequently. What that data actually is could vary depending on the context.

One example most people are familiar with is the apps on your phone. So let’s start there. Let’s say you’re listening to a song on your…