Snooping Protocol
The Snooping Protocol is a method used in computer networks to maintain cache coherence among multiple processors. It ensures that when one processor updates its cache, other processors are informed of this change, preventing them from using stale data. This is particularly important in systems where multiple processors share memory.
In a typical implementation, each processor monitors (or "snoops" on) the communication between other processors. When a processor reads or writes data, the Snooping Protocol checks if other caches have a copy of that data. If they do, the protocol ensures that those caches are updated or invalidated, maintaining consistency across the system.