Memcached

Definitions

1. A high-performance, distributed, in-memory key-value store designed for caching database query results, session data, and API responses. It uses a simple text/binary protocol, consistent hashing for sharding across nodes, and LRU eviction. Simpler than Redis — no persistence, no data structures beyond byte blobs.

   In plain English: A fast, shared memory cache spread across multiple servers that stores frequently requested data so the database doesn't get hammered.

   Example: "We put a Memcached layer in front of the product catalog — cache hit rate is 97% and page load dropped from 400ms to 50ms."

Related Terms

• LRU Cache
• Stale-While-Revalidate
• ETag
• Cache Stampede
• Disk Cache
• Inline Cache
• Latency Budget
• Query Cache
• Cache Region