What Is Cached Data? Why & How Should You Clear It?
What Is Cached Data? Why & How Should You Clear It?
What Is Cached Data? Why & How Should You Clear It?
Cached data is information stored on your computer or device after you visit a website. Developers use cached data to improve your online experience.
Most consumers expect a website to load within two and three seconds. Any longer, and they could choose to click away to a competitor. They may never come back to your site again.
The goal of cached data is to speed up site loading. Your device won't have a long chit-chat with a server to load all of the text and images and forms on the site. Some of those bits and bytes will be stored in your device.
But some of that stored data comes with a dark side. Hackers could use it to launch an attack that could put your security at risk.
How Does Cached Data Work?
Think of a cache as a repository of website data you use all the time. Each time you visit that website, your device must pull down that information. If it's stored in the cache, your device skips a step and you save valuable time.
You don't get to choose what fits into the cache. Developers do that work for you based on what they believe offers the fastest load time and the best experience.
If you live in an area with spotty internet service, cached data can be a lifesaver. You might wait and wait for an entire site to load. If some of it is cached, you could get the bits you need very quickly.
Cached memory isn't the only form of memory your computer uses. In fact, developers use a so-called computer memory hierarchy to describe how most devices store and access data.
Cached data is different from other forms, as it can be discarded with a few simple steps from users.
What Will Clearing Cached Data Do?
Most devices have some form of cache cleanup. New data comes in, and older information is removed. This system ensures that your device isn't bogged down by so much storage that it can't tackle anything new.
But you might choose to clear cache too. Common reasons for doing so include:
- Speed and performance. A full cache needs memory, and if you're full, a bogged down memory doesn't work very quickly. Clearing the backlog could make your device work quicker.
- Hacking cleanup. After an attack, developers can restore a website to working order. If y