Mapping Function

A mapping function is used to determine the correspondence or relationship between the main memory blocks and those in the cache. It is responsible for mapping a specific memory address to a specific cache location.

Cache Memory

Cache memory is a small, fast memory component that stores frequently accessed data and instructions. It is located closer to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) than main memory and is used to reduce the average time taken to access data from the main memory.

Cache Mapping

Cache mapping refers to the process of determining where a particular block of data will be stored in the cache. There are different cache mapping techniques such as direct mapping, associative mapping, and set-associative mapping.

Direct Mapping

In direct mapping, each block of main memory is mapped to a specific location in the cache. The mapping is determined by using a specific formula or algorithm. For example, if the cache has 8 blocks and the main memory has 64 blocks, each block in the main memory will be mapped to a specific block in the cache.

Mapping Function in Cache Memory

The mapping function is responsible for determining the cache location where a particular block of data will be stored. It takes the memory address as input and uses a specific algorithm or formula to calculate the cache location. The mapping function should ensure that each memory block is mapped to a unique cache location.

Correspondence between Main Memory Blocks and Cache

The correspondence between the main memory blocks and those in the cache is established by the mapping function. The mapping function ensures that each memory block is mapped to a specific cache location.

Hash Function

A hash function is a mathematical function that takes an input (or key) and returns a fixed-size string of characters. It is commonly used in data structures like hash tables to quickly locate data based on its key. However, a hash function is not typically used for mapping memory blocks to cache locations.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B) Mapping function. The mapping function is responsible for determining the correspondence between the main memory blocks and those in the cache.