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What is PagedAttention, and why did it transform LLM serving throughput?

Most GPU memory in naive LLM serving is wasted on KV-cache fragmentation. PagedAttention borrows virtual memory paging to reclaim it. The signal is explaining the fragmentation problem and how blocks fix it.

Updated Aug 2026 · Grounded in real Applied AI Engineer interview loops and written to a senior-engineer editorial bar.

Most GPU memory in naive LLM serving is wasted on KV-cache fragmentation. PagedAttention borrows virtual memory paging to reclaim it. The signal is explaining the fragmentation problem and how blocks fix it.

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