CACHE LINE

Domain	Definition
Computing	Cache line (Or cache block) The smallest unit of memory than can be transferred between the main memory and the cache. Rather than reading a single word or byte from main memory at a time, each cache entry is usually holds a certain number of words, known as a "cache line" or "cache block" and a whole line is read and cached at once. This takes advantage of the principle of locality of reference: if one location is read then nearby locations (particularly following locations) are likely to be read soon afterwards. It can also take advantage of page-mode DRAM which allows faster access to consecutive locations. (1997-01-21). Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Specialty Definition: Cache line

A `cache line' is a chunk of memory, typically on the order of 32 bytes, that is brought into cache in its entirety when any of the elements in it is referenced.

In cache-based computers (as opposed to architectures that directly work memory-to-memory such as the Cyber 205) data elements first need to be brought into cache before they can be brought into a register in order to be operated on. Most of the times, the architecture is such that not a single element, but rather a few elements, collectively called a cache line, are moved from main memory to cache.

The existence of cache lines implies that programs that observe locality of reference can achieve a high performance.

Anagrams: CACHE LINE

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-c-c-e-e-h-i-l-n"
	-1 letter: elenchic.
	-2 letters: calcine, caleche, caliche, cenacle, chalice, chancel, chicane, elenchi, licence.
	-3 letters: achene, cancel, celiac, chaine, chance, chelae, chicle, cicale, clench, cliche, clinch, enlace, heliac, inhale, inlace, lichee, lichen.
	-4 letters: alien, aline, anele, anile, cache, cecal, chain, chela, chiel, chile, china, chine, cinch, clach, clean, cline, elain, hance, hence, ileac, laich, lance, leach, leech.
	Words containing the letters "a-c-c-e-e-h-i-l-n"
	+2 letters: chameleonic, chanticleer.
	+3 letters: anencephalic, chalcedonies, chalcogenide, chanticleers, diencephalic, encephalitic, geotechnical, technicalize.
	+4 letters: acetylcholine, catecholamine, chalcogenides, chancelleries, chancellories, mesencephalic, metencephalic, neurochemical, technicalized, technicalizes, telencephalic.
	+5 letters: acetylcholines, catecholamines, myelencephalic, neurochemicals, prosencephalic, rhinencephalic, technicalities.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.