A caching mechanism is a human-built system that stores copies of data in a fast-access layer, substituting for direct retrieval from a slower primary store. Its parameters are: (1) the data items held in the fast layer, (2) the eviction policy that decides which copies to discard when space is needed, and (3) the invalidation rule that keeps cached copies consistent with the primary store. It persists through human implementation in software, hardware, and organizational practice. [formal: cache | substrate: mind | horizon: hours | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
caching
A caching mechanism is a human-built system that stores copies of data in a fast-access layer, substituting for direct retrieval from a slower primary store. Its parameters are: (1) the data items held in the fast layer, (2) the eviction p…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A caching mechanism is a human-designed system for storing copies of frequently or soon-needed data in a location optimized for rapid access, replacing direct retrieval from a slower primary store.
Names and aliases
- cachingen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrf51qwi005rcqqtmpyziy84DEPENDS_ON →
Caching as a practice stops operating without memory — the mechanism of storing information temporarily for faster access requires memory as its substrate. Remove memory and there is nothing to cache. Removal test: X=memory, does caching stop operating? Yes.
- cmsi4l2p80452ywh500rxvdvfINSTANCE_OF →
Caching is a specific kind of optimization technique — it optimizes access patterns by storing frequently-used data in faster storage. Per Law 9, a competent speaker would call caching a kind of optimization.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Aug 10, 2026, 6:04 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 1ecfde7b6e1ab84ccba5967ccce28a3df92a723d8f87505a621b1af0c5af6b7a