Efficient and scalable storage of sparse tensors

In a system for storing in memory a tensor that includes at least three modes, elements of the tensor are stored in a mode-based order for improving locality of references when the elements are accessed during an operation on the tensor. To facilitate efficient data reuse in a tensor transform that includes several iterations, on a tensor that includes at least three modes, a system performs a first iteration that includes a first operation on the tensor to obtain a first intermediate result, and the first intermediate result includes a first intermediate-tensor. The first intermediate result is stored in memory, and a second iteration is performed in which a second operation on the first intermediate result accessed from the memory is performed, so as to avoid a third operation, that would be required if the first intermediate result were not accessed from the memory.