What reduces the amount of data transmitted on a network by keeping a copy of recently transmitted data in memory?

Caching is a technique that significantly reduces the amount of data transmitted over a network by storing a copy of frequently accessed data in memory. When a request for data is made, the system checks if the data is already available in the cache. If it is, the system retrieves it from the cache instead of fetching it from the original source, which could be located on a distant server. This not only speeds up access times but also lessens the load on the network, as repeated requests for the same data do not require additional data transmissions.

In this context, caching can be especially useful for web applications and services where users frequently access the same information. For example, if multiple users request the same webpage, caching allows the server to deliver the stored version from memory rather than creating multiple streams of the same data over the network, reducing overall bandwidth usage.

The other choices pertain to different aspects of data transmission but do not directly relate to the concept of retaining previously transmitted data to minimize network traffic. Latency refers to the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction. Compression involves reducing the size of data but does not address storing previously transmitted data. Bandwidth relates to the maximum rate of data transfer across a network path and is more about capacity than