Cache memory design: An evolving art: Designers are looking to line size, degree of associativity, and virtual addresses as important parameters in speeding up the operation

The role of cache memories and the factors that decide the success of a particular design are examined. The operation of a cache memory is described. The specification of cache parameters is considered. Also discussed are the size of a cache, cache hierarchies, fetching and replacing, cache organization, updating the main memory, the use of two caches rather than one, virtual-address caches, and cache consistency.