What are the advantages of associative mapping?

Answer 1

Associative mapping, or fully associative mapping, allows any block of data to be stored in any cache line, enabling greater flexibility and efficient use of cache space. This approach reduces the likelihood of cache misses since data can be placed wherever there is available space, making it ideal for applications with varying access patterns. Additionally, it simplifies the cache replacement policy, as any block can replace any other, potentially leading to improved performance in certain workloads. However, this flexibility comes at the cost of increased complexity in cache management and slower lookup times due to the need for searching across multiple cache lines.