LSM cache

A variety of methods for improving efficiency in a database system are provided. In one embodiment, a method may comprise: generating multiple levels of data according to how recently the data have been updated, whereby most recently updated data are assigned to the newest level; storing each level of data in a specific storage tier; splitting data stored in a particular storage tier into two or more groups according to access statistics of each specific data; during compaction, storing data from different groups in separate data blocks of the particular storage tier; and when a particular data in a specific data block is requested, reading the specific data block into a low-latency storage tier.