Abstract: A prefetch bit (126) is associated with cache block (125) of a cache (120), and the management (130) of cache-prefetch operations is based on the state of this bit (126). Further efficiencies are gained by allowing each application to identify memory areas (115) within which regularly repeating memory accesses are likely, such as frame memory in a video application. For each of these memory areas (115), the application also identifies a likely stride value, such as the line length of the data in the frame memory. Pre-fetching is limited to the identified areas (115), and the prefetch bit (126) is used to identify blocks (125) from these areas and to limit repeated cache hit/miss determinations.