Modern processors often have how many levels of cache?

Modern processors typically feature three levels of cache: L1, L2, and L3.

The L1 cache is directly connected to the processor cores and is the fastest among the three, providing the quickest access to the data that the processor needs. It generally consists of small amounts of memory that each core uses to store frequently accessed data and instructions.

L2 cache is larger and slightly slower than L1 but still offers quicker access than main memory. It acts as a second layer of storage for data that does not fit into the L1 cache.

L3 cache, while being the largest and slowest among the three, is shared among all the cores in the processor, facilitating greater data access efficiency across multiple cores.

This hierarchical organization of caches helps to minimize the time it takes for the processor to access data and instructions, thereby enhancing overall performance. While some specialized processors may have different configurations, the three-level cache system is widely adopted in modern, general-purpose CPUs, making the answer correct.