# kv cache

CEFR C2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kv-cache
Updated: 2026-09-30

## Definition

a memory system used by AI models to store information from earlier parts of a conversation. It helps the computer generate text faster because it does not have to recalculate everything from the beginning.

For teachers: a memory optimization technique in Transformer-based models that stores previously computed Key and Value tensors. By avoiding redundant computations for tokens already processed, it significantly reduces latency during the autoregressive decoding phase.

## Examples

- The AI uses a kv cache to speed up its responses.
- When generating long stories, the model relies on the kv cache to remember the context of the first chapter without re-processing every word.
- Efficient management of the kv cache is critical for deploying large language models, as the memory requirements for these tensors scale linearly with sequence length and batch size.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in technical contexts regarding machine learning and natural language processing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.