Understanding LRU Cache in Python

Introduction

In this article we will learn about what is lru cache and how we can implement it in python. LRU derrived as Least Recently Used cache. LRU is an powerful data structure its use for maintains a limited set of items while automatically removing the least recently accessed ones. Its perfevtly use forscenarios where you want to keep frequently accessed data readily available.

Implementation of LRU( Least Recently Used ) cache

1. Node Class

Python

class Node:
    def __init__(self, key, value):
        self.key = key
        self.value = value
        self.prev = None
        self.next = None

This defines a Node for our doubly linked list.

Stores a key-value pair
Has references to previous and next nodes
These connections allow us to quickly remove and reposition nodes

2. LRUCache Initialization

Python

def __init__(self, capacity):
    self.capacity = capacity
    self.cache = {}

    # Create dummy head and tail nodes for initialization
    self.head = Node(0, 0)
    self.tail = Node(0, 0)
    self.head.next = self.tail
    self.tail.prev = self.head

Sets the maximum capacity of the cache
Creates an empty dictionary to map keys to nodes for O(1) search
Creates dummy head and tail nodes
Links these dummy nodes together to form an empty list structure

3. Node Management Methods

Add Node

Python

def _add_node(self, node):
    # Add node data right after head
    node.prev = self.head
    node.next = self.head.next
    self.head.next.prev = node
    self.head.next = node

Adds a new node right after the head (most recently used position)
Updates connections in a specific order to avoid breaking the list

Remove Node

Python

def _remove_node(self, node):
    # Remove an existing node from the linked list
    prev = node.prev
    new = node.next
    prev.next = new
    new.prev = prev

Removes a node by updating the connections of its neighbors
The node itself becomes disconnected from the list

Move Node

Python

def _move_to_head(self, node):
    # Move certain node to the head
    self._remove_node(node)
    self._add_node(node)

Combines removal and addition to move an existing node to the head
Used when an item is accessed to mark it as most recently used

Python

def _pop_tail(self):
    # Pop the last node
    res = self.tail.prev
    self._remove_node(res)
    return res

Removes and returns the node right before the tail (least recently used)
Used when we need to evict an item to make room

4. Cache Operations

Python

def get(self, key):
    node = self.cache.get(key, None)
    if not node:
        return -1

    # Move the accessed node to head
    self._move_to_head(node)
    return node.value

Looks up the key in our dictionary in O(1) time
If found, moves the node to the head (marks as recently used), which is the most important part of the algorithm
Returns the value or -1 if not found

Python

def put(self, key, value):
    node = self.cache.get(key)
    
    if not node:
        newNode = Node(key, value)
        self.cache[key] = newNode
        self._add_node(newNode)
        
        if len(self.cache) > self.capacity:
            # Pop the tail
            tail = self._pop_tail()
            del self.cache[tail.key]
    else:
        # Update the value
        node.value = value
        self._move_to_head(node)

If the key exists, updates its value and moves it to the head
If the key is new:
1. Creates a new node
2. Adds it to the dictionary
3. Adds it to the front of the list
4. If over capacity, remove the least recently used item (from the tail)
5. Also removes this evicted item from the dictionary

Combine Example of LRU cache

Python

class Node:
    def __init__(self, key, value):
        self.key = key
        self.value = value
        self.prev = None
        self.next = None


class LRUCache:
    def __init__(self, capacity):
        self.capacity = capacity
        self.cache = {}

        # Create dummy data head and tail nodes
        self.head = Node(0, 0)
        self.tail = Node(0, 0)
        self.head.next = self.tail
        self.tail.prev = self.head

    def _add_node(self, node):
        # Add node right after head
        node.prev = self.head
        node.next = self.head.next

        self.head.next.prev = node
        self.head.next = node

    def _remove_node(self, node):
        # Remove an existing node from the linked list
        prev = node.prev
        new = node.next

        prev.next = new
        new.prev = prev

    def _move_to_head(self, node):
        # Move certain node to the head
        self._remove_node(node)
        self._add_node(node)

    def _pop_tail(self):
        # Pop the last node
        res = self.tail.prev
        self._remove_node(res)
        return res

    def get(self, key):
        node = self.cache.get(key, None)
        if not node:
            return -1

        # Move the accessed node to head
        self._move_to_head(node)
        return node.value

    def put(self, key, value):
        node = self.cache.get(key)

        if not node:
            newNode = Node(key, value)
            self.cache[key] = newNode
            self._add_node(newNode)

            if len(self.cache) > self.capacity:
                # Pop the tail
                tail = self._pop_tail()
                del self.cache[tail.key]
        else:
            # Update the value
            node.value = value
            self._move_to_head(node)


# Create a cache with capacity of 2
cache = LRUCache(2)

cache.put(1, 1)           # Cache: {1=1}
cache.put(2, 2)           # Cache: {1=1, 2=2}
print(cache.get(1))       # Returns 1, Cache: {2=2, 1=1}
cache.put(3, 3)           # Removes key 2, Cache: {1=1, 3=3}
print(cache.get(2))       # Returns -1 (not found)
cache.put(4, 4)           # Removes key 1, Cache: {3=3, 4=4}
print(cache.get(1))       # Returns -1 (not found)
print(cache.get(3))       # Returns 3, Cache: {4=4, 3=3}
print(cache.get(4))       # Returns 4, Cache: {3=3, 4=4}

Output

Bash

LRU

Uses of LRU Cache

Database query caching
Web server response caching
Browser history management

Summary

By implementing an LRU cache, you can significantly improve the performance of applications that repeatedly access expensive-to-compute data