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What Does Cache Mean?

Temporary files are stored in the cache to make things run more smoothly

By Paul Gil Paul Gil Writer Paul Gil, a former Lifewire writer who is also known for his dynamic internet and database courses and has been active in technology fields for over two decades. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 29, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless A cache (pronounced cash) is a repository of temporary files that a device uses to speed up the user experience. There's a cache in a variety of places and on all sorts of devices. While every cache holds different information, they're all used for the same purpose. Lifewire / Theresa Chiechi

What Does the Cache Do

The cache makes it possible for a web browser to load recently accessed images quickly. Memory cache speeds up how screens appear on a computer. The cache in phone apps stores relevant app information, and a router can hold onto data for quick access. Without a cache, computers, phones, and other devices would not perform as quickly as they often do. However, the cache isn't always beneficial; it can consume lots of disk space, deliver corrupt files, and collect malware. All web browsers have the option to clear the cache. This frees up disk space, improves performance, removes corrupt files, and requests new data from the web server.

How Browser Cache Works

Most conversations that describe a cache deal with the browser cache. The browser cache is a slice of hard drive space that's set aside to gather commonly used items accessed through a web browser. These frequently accessed files are stored so that the next time you need that data, the browser can open the files from the hard drive instead of downloading them from the internet. For example, when you visit a website, the browser downloads images and text to your computer (or phone or tablet). If you reopen the same page two minutes later, those same files are still present on your computer. When the browser sees that the data you're requesting is available on your hard drive, it opens those files instead of downloading them again from the website's server. The result is that the files are opened nearly immediately, saving you time. Less data is used, too, which is helpful for mobile users on limited data plans. Your phone doesn't have to download each image and web page repeatedly since it can restore the data from the cache.

Problems With the Cache

While benefits come with saving time and data, the cache can become corrupt and sometimes do more harm than good. For example, a virus could download to the browser cache, infecting your computer. Files can become outdated if the cache doesn't purge itself automatically, meaning that the pages you see could be irrelevant or cause errors. The cache is also large and can take up gigabytes of data. Considering that some phones and computers have limited storage, caches of all types should be cleared as needed, including browser caches and app caches. You might clear the cache on your device, program, browser, or mobile app if it displays things oddly, operates slowly, crashes randomly, or behaves differently than it does generally. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Clear Your iPhone Cache How to Clear the Cache on Xbox One Consoles How to Clear the Cache in IE11 How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows How to Fix It When WhatsApp Isn't Working Where to Find Internet Explorer's Temporary Internet Files Manage Browsing History and Other Private Data in IE11 How to Clear Cache Data on Your Android Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cookies Gmail Won't Load? How to Fix It How to Clear the Cache on Facebook How to Remove Junk Files From Windows 11 How to Clear Internet Cache in Every Major Browser How to Clear Cache on an iPad How to Fix It When Discovery Plus Is Not Working 5 Easy Fixes for Most Computer Problems Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies