What is Cache? Benefits & How to Delete It – Cache is a tool to help access websites or applications faster. Even so, if your computer is slow, clearing the cache is the step that must be done.
So, what exactly is cache? If it is necessary, what are the benefits of cache?
Well, in this article, we will discuss what cache is, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to clear cache when it causes problems. Come on, see more!
Contents
What is Cache?
A cache is a place to temporarily store data on the system, whether on a computer, application or website.
With the cache, access to the next same request can be more effective, because it simply retrieves the data stored locally.
For example, when you access a website, the browser will store temporary data from that website. Later, when you want to open the same web page, the browser does not need to request it directly from the server again.
This caching process does not only occur on computers. Almost all platforms use a cache system because it provides many uses.
Cache Benefits
Here are three benefits that can be obtained from using the cache:
1. Speed ​​Up System
The benefit of using cache is that it improves the performance of your system. As in the explanation of how it works, the cache makes the browser and computer work process lighter.
Imagine if every data request must always go to the server, the process would take longer. Not to mention, if there are many different requests at the same time while your resources are limited. Of course you have to take turns, and it takes more time.
2. Save Data
With the cache, the system does not need to request the same information to the server repeatedly. For use on browsers that require internet access, this certainly saves more data.
What’s more, on smartphones where most of the applications are always active, the need for data without cache will certainly be large.
3. Ease of Access
In applications that are accessed online, the presence of a cache can help facilitate their use. Especially, when the connection is lost.
Some PWA (Progressive Web App) applications can run even when they are offline. For example, OLX, Trivago, and Twitter.
This can happen because these applications stray data in the cache. So you can still view the last previously accessed content while offline.
Lack of Cache
Although very useful, the cache also has some drawbacks, namely:
1. Spending Storage
Cache data is stored on the memory of a computer or smartphone. Despite its small size, over time, it will pile up and make storage full.
For example, the Chrome application on smartphones, initially only measures about 30 MB. However, after being used and storing a lot of cache, it becomes hundreds of MB in size .
2. Creating Application Error
Sometimes an error can occur in the cache data storage, which makes the data corrupt or corrupt. This can cause the browser or application to be unable to load data, experience errors, or even stop working.
3. Blocking Access to Latest Updates
The cache stores data when the website is accessed for the first time. So, when you access the same website, you will only be served cached data by the browser. Even though your destination website may have changed or been updated.
This happens especially when the storage space for the cache is full. So, you can’t access the website smoothly.
In conditions like this, the step that must be done is to clear the cache. In short, the clear cache is an attempt to clear the cache in order to retrieve new data directly from the server.
How to Clear Cache on Various Platforms
Here we will explain how to clear the cache on different platforms:
1. How to Clear Cache Data on Computer
Here we will explain how to clear data or clear cache on a computer with the Windows 10 operating system:
1. Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of your desktop, then click the Settings option.
2. In the Settings window, click the System menu.
3. Click the Storage tab. You need to wait a few seconds for the data to appear. After that, select the Temporary Files menu.
In this menu, you can see the size of the existing temporary files. Windows automatically ticks safe file types to delete without losing important data, such as Downloads.
4. Select the files you want to delete, and click Remove Files.
5. You just have to wait for the cache cleaning process to finish.
2. How to Clear Cache on Android Smartphone
On some Android smartphones, there is a way to delete or clear cache automatically with the factory default Cleaner application.
Apart from using custom apps, you can also clear the cache per app from the Settings menu. Then go to Apps menu > Manage Apps, and select the app you want to clear the cache. For example, let’s try the Gmail application.
Click the Gmail icon and select the Clear data > Clear cache option. Do not select Clear all data, because this option will delete all your usage history along with important data stored.
Wait until the cache clearing process is complete.
3. Clearing Cache on Browser
How to clear cache data on the Google Chrome browser?
1. While opening Chrome, press Ctrl + H on your keyboard to open the History menu or your browsing history.
2. Select the Clear browsing data option on the left tab.
3. In the Clear browsing data menu, select a time range for deletion, from the last 24 hours to all time. Then check the option Cached images and files and other browsing data that you want to delete.
4. Click the Clear data button. Then, wait a few moments until the process of clearing the cache on Chrome is complete.
Not only chrome, but you can also clear cache in an easy way on other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.
Improve Website Performance with Cache!
A cache is a place to temporarily store data on computer systems, Android and iOS devices, to browsers. The cache is useful for speeding up the system, saving data, and making it easier to access websites.
Unfortunately, using too much cache with limited storage capacity can actually make access to applications and websites constrained. That’s why in a situation, you need to clear the cache like the guide above.
In use on the website, the web cache as temporary data can be stored in the browser or server. The goal is the same, speed up access and save server memory.
Not surprisingly, creating a website with server support that has the best cache management is an option.
