prefetch (PF)

Prefetch(PF) is a technique based on memory anticipation and is used to speed up computing operations. Prefetch or prefetching stands for the early fetching of instructions or data that the processor needs for upcoming computing operations.

The fast feeding of data to the processor is very important in this respect, because waiting times are caused by reloading and thus the computing performance suffers. Only prefetching reduces these reload times because data is provided in advance.

Since computing operations are not known in advance, the prefetch method works analytically with probabilities. It involves moving the data that is likely to be needed next from memory to a higher staging level. It is therefore a prediction technique that works very efficiently depending on the computer architecture.