Cacheable

Cacheable refers to the property of data, content, or resources that can be stored in a cache. A cache is a temporary storage area, usually a hardware cache such as CPU cache or a software cache, to facilitate faster retrieval of information in the future. Data that is cacheable is typically static or slow-changing and can be served from the cache without requiring the source to regenerate or retrieve it repeatedly. The goal of cacheable content is to reduce latency, improve performance, and lower bandwidth usage. Essentially, anything deemed cacheable is eligible for being stored and served from a cache.

Cacheable meaning with examples

• Web images and static HTML files are prime examples of cacheable content. When a user requests an image, the browser checks its cache first. If found, it's served directly; otherwise, it's retrieved from the server and then stored in the cache for future use. This significantly speeds up page loading.
• API responses for unchanging product catalogs or user profiles are frequently made cacheable. This allows the server to avoid repeatedly querying the database for the same data, reducing server load and response times, improving the user experience, and optimizing application performance.
• Database query results with no time-sensitive data can be cached. This ensures that frequently accessed queries, such as a list of recent articles, don't bog down the database; thus, cacheability translates into faster application performance.
• DNS records are inherently cacheable to speed up the resolution of domain names to IP addresses. Recursive resolvers cache the results of name resolution, improving the speed and efficiency of the web surfing experience and reducing the load on authoritative DNS servers.
• CDN (Content Delivery Network) servers widely use cacheability to store web content in locations geographically closer to users. By caching content at the edge, CDN dramatically reduces latency and improves content delivery speed, ensuring quick and consistent delivery for users worldwide.