Description: In short, Browser Cache is the static assets or in simple terms “parts of a website that do not change from visit to visit”. Browser cache is a temporary storage area that holds recently downloaded Web pages. Clearing cache is useful and important for any internet problem.
Browser Cache
What is browser cache? First, to break it up browser is a name for apps like Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Cache means placing something in the storage on the chance that it may come in useful later. If you put them together, then browser cache means storing in the browser that becomes useful later on. These are called “static assets” or parts of a website that do not change from visit to visit. For example Images, stylesheets, favicons, and fonts. These assets don’t change every time you visit the website.
Benefits
Speeds up browsing: With caching webpages load much faster. When you visit a website the browser cache installs the data and puts it in the cache. This means your device will retrieve the data instead of installing it and this process takes quicker time.
Don’t have to reinstall images: Believe it or not, cache saves you the struggle of having to not reinstall an image or logo. Without caching, your machine would have to download that logo every time you click on a new product page.
Manages conversion rates: Browser Cache improves the conversion rate by reducing the time needed for the page to load its content. This saves time and helps keep users on your website for longer.
Pitfalls
Revamping: Cached files don’t often change or update. If you are trying to replace your old logo with a new logo you would have trouble doing it. Cached files will still be installed on your hard drive and won’t go away until it expires.
Decrease computer speed: Because your cache uses the device’s local storage, there are more files in your computers. This causes your computer’s speed to be slower.
Storage capacity: With more files being stored, your storage capacity will fill up faster.
Why clearing up a browser’s cache is important?
Clearing up the browser’s cache should always be your first action if you are troubleshooting for internet browsing. Clearing up the browser’s cache gets rid of unwanted information and speeds up your internet’s browsing speed. It is also so your computer doesn’t use old data from the browser and it protects your personal information. Even though it is good to not clear the cache because it will take the browser longer to load in and to reinstall data.
How to clear up the browser’s cache:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More.
- Click More Tools Clear browsing data.
- At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
- Next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files,” check the boxes.
- Click Clear Data Source:https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
Conclusion
In conclusion, clearing up browser cache has a lot of positive and negative impacts. The positive effect is: that it speeds up internet browsing, loads browsers faster, no need to reinstall images. The negative effect: Takes up storage, decreases computer speed and files don’t get updated automatically. In the end, you should clear your browser’s cache once in a while and this should be the first response to slow browser speed.