Prefetching - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Prefetching is a technique where data or instructions are loaded into a cache before they are needed, speeding up system performance by reducing wait times during processing.
Definition:
Loading data in advance to reduce waiting time during processing or retrieval.
Synonyms:
preloading, caching, anticipatory loading
Part of Speech:
noun, verb (gerund)
Antonyms:
delaying, deferring
Common Collocations:
prefetching data, prefetching algorithm, prefetching technique, prefetching mechanism
Derivatives:
prefetch, prefetched
Usage Tips:
Use "prefetching" when describing proactive data loading to optimize performance in computing or caching systems.
Common Phrases:
smart prefetching, hardware prefetching, software prefetching
Etymology:
Derived from "pre-" (before) + "fetch" (retrieve), first used in computing contexts in the mid-20th century.
Examples:
- 1. The browser uses prefetching to load web pages faster.
- 2. Prefetching reduces latency by anticipating user requests.
- 3. Modern processors employ prefetching to speed up data access.
- 4. Developers optimize apps with smart prefetching techniques.