What is the role of data caches and in-memory databases in backend application performance?
Data caches and in-memory databases play a crucial role in improving backend application performance. By storing frequently accessed data in a cache or in-memory database, they reduce the need for repeated data retrieval from slower disk-based storage. This results in faster data access, reduced latency, and improved application response times. Caches are generally used to store the most frequently accessed portion of data, while in-memory databases hold entire datasets in system memory. Both techniques are suitable for different scenarios and have their own advantages and considerations.