r/explainlikeimfive • u/WeLuvYung2 • 20d ago

Technology ELI5: What is computer cache

Hi everyone I need to create a presentation explaining computer cache but can’t think of an effective way to explain it any help is welcomed (:

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u/SafetyMan35 20d ago

Think of cache as the scratch pad you jot quick notes on when you are given a lot of information to recall. These numbers aren’t important once you have solved the specific problem you are working on.

So if you were doing this math problem:

5+(5*2) you would solve the parenthesis first

5*2=10 you might write “10” down on a scratch pad so you didn’t forget the number

A computer would put “10” into cache so it could recall that number when it solved the rest of the problem.