Enhanced access to data available in a cache

Enhanced access data available in a cache. In one embodiment, a cache maintaining copies of source data is formed as a volatile memory. On receiving a request directed to the cache for a copy of a data element, the requested copy maintained in the cache is sent as a response to the request. In another embodiment used in the context of applications accessing databases in a navigational model, a cache maintains rows of data accessed by different user applications on corresponding connections. Applications may send requests directed to the cache to retrieve copies of the rows, populated potentially by other applications, while the cache restricts access to rows populated by other applications when processing requests directed to the source database system. In another embodiment, an application may direct requests to retrieve data elements caused to be populated by activity on different connections established by the same application.