Web cache

Web cache, also known as a cache, is a system of storing and retrieving web-requested content. It is used by web servers and web browsers as a way to accelerate subsequent requests to the same content, thereby reducing server response time and network traffic. Through caching, local content copies can be stored in a cache server, so that future requests can be served faster from the local copies.

Web caching works by storing locally a copy of some or all of the data that was requested from a remote server. This local copy is then used to quickly serve requests from the clients, instead of retrieving the remote data each time. By storing multiple copies of the same content, cache servers can effectively reduce the download time and improve application performance.

Web caches can improve system performance by decreasing the amount of bandwidth used and by reducing the load on the originating server. This reduces the cost of providing a service and increases the speed of accessing the data. As web cache technology is becoming more sophisticated, they are becoming a part of larger caching systems and platforms, such as dedicated content delivery networks (CDNs). CDNs can leverage the distributed infrastructure of many different cache servers to create a network of peers that can cache and stream content to many requests at once.

Web caches can also be used to improve privacy and security. Cache servers can be configured to keep certain content requests private, as well as limit access to questionable content. This can help protect both users and website data from being exposed to internet threats.

Web caching is beneficial for most types of online applications, including e-commerce, streaming media, web services, and social networking. By making use of a web cache, applications can generally perform better and present a better user experience, as well as maintain the privacy and security of their data.