What is a Cache and Why is it Ruining my Life?

What is a Cache?

Every new website comes with that awkward moment when you fix a typo in the backend, hit refresh and… nothing changes on the front end. Infuriating! What you’re experiencing is called a cache, and yes, it annoys everyone. But why is the internet doing this to you?

To simplify, a cache is just your browser’s memory of website elements that it has already downloaded It uses this information to save time. For example, your logo appears on every page of your site. Would you want your browser to re-download your logo for each page visit? Of course you don't, that would slow your website speed. So the cache is just the internet trying to help you out and keep your website pages loading fast.

But just because the internet is trying to smother you with love doesn’t mean it’s always right. Like all clingy lovers, it remembers your mistakes... and keeps throwing them back at you. That’s why your fixed typo continues to haunt you.

Clearing your Cache

The good news is that there is a cure for this aggressive love and it’s called clearing your cache. Think of it as the classic “turn it off and back on again” for websites. I use the phrase so often I’ve considered putting it in my email signature. On most browsers, you can clear the cache by holding down the Shift key while clicking the reload button. (The reload button is the circular arrow icon next to your browser’s address bar.) 

You may also be able to use these keyboard shortcuts to clear your cache:

• Mac: Shift + Command + Delete

• Windows: Shift + Ctrl + Delete

When Clearing the Cache doesn't work

Unfortunately, your browser isn’t the only thing with a cache. Firewalls, networks and even your Wi-Fi can hold onto old versions of your website. Sometimes it feels like everything has a cache. Oh internet, does your aggressive love know no bounds?

Here’s the silver lining: caching prevents far more problems than it creates. It’s just hard to appreciate the cache when you’re staring down a stubborn typo. If clearing your cache doesn’t work, don’t panic. Chances are, it’s only showing to you because of your local cache. New website visitors (who likely visit your site far less frequently than you do) are already seeing the corrected version of your typo.

So, take a deep breath and maybe enjoy a beverage. Give it a little time, and when you check back in a few hours, your typo will probably be gone. The cache remembers, but not for very long.