What Is Cache? (And How to Clean It?)

In this article, we are going to be mentioning what cache is and how to clean the cache. You might mix it with cash since the pronunciation is almost the same, but we talk about browser caches here. We are going to be explaining what exactly cache is, how you clear your cache, and, indeed, why would you need to clear your cache. So let’s go.

What Is Browser Cache?

The cache is a way of making websites load faster for you when you’re browsing the internet. What happens is when you visit a website for the first time, your browser, which could be Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, basically downloads a copy of that website and stores it on your computer’s hard drive.

This means that when you’re browsing around that website, it loads really fast because a lot of the resources like images and scripts and other techy stuff are on your computer rather than having to be pulled down across the internet each time. It’s generally a really good thing to have because it makes browsing the web a lot faster.

However, the cache can sometimes be a problem. You may be a web developer who sets up websites, especially WordPress websites, in particular. What can happen is that you can make some changes, maybe to the CSS or other elements on the page. Then, when you go to view that page, it may not look quite right. Or you may not see the changes that you have just done like it’s broken. Generally, the webpage is pulling the images from your browser cache rather than downloading them from the internet, and therefore your changes aren’t being reflected. Or it is kind of getting half of it from there and half of it from your computer, and it is breaking some stuff.

So when this type of error occurs, you need to clear your cache. This is basically just cleaning out all the websites that your browser has downloaded starting afresh, and when you go and visit a page, it will download the whole thing again. So you will be able to see exactly how it should look.

How to Clean the Cache

Here we will direct and show you how you can clear your cache. We are going to show you how to do three different browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. Unfortunately, we don’t have Internet Explorer, but it’s going to be pretty much the same for that, as well. Does anyone even use Internet Explorer anymore?

Cache Clearing on Google Chrome

Let’s start with Google Chrome. To clear your cache, first, click on the three dots icon on the top right. Then, go to Settings. On the settings page, on the left side, click on the Privacy and Security tab. Here, you should choose the Clear browsing data option. A box will pop up. You will see a lot of small tick boxes, including the one that says Cached images and files. That’s the one you want to choose when you’re clearing your cache.

Keep in mind that choosing the Clear the Cookies box is going to log you out of everything; most sites are going to forget all your settings. It can be a pain, so you can avoid that. If you want, you can clear your browsing history as well by ticking the relevant box. When you select all the boxes you need, click on the Clear data button, and you are all set.

Generally, when it comes to testing out websites, you can see that some settings do not work correctly. That can be fixed by just clearing the cached images and files.

Cache Clearing on Mozilla Firefox

Next, let’s have a look at Firefox. On the top right, you will see some icons. One of them is an icon that looks like three lines in a row. Click on that icon and choose Preferences. Once you’re in the preferences, similar to Google Chrome, on the left side of the page, you will spot Privacy & Security. Click on this setting.

Scroll down a little, and you will see Cookies and site data. In that section, you should see the Clear Data button. Click on it, and we’ve got two boxes here. You want to untick the cookies button for the same reason we mentioned. Just leave the Cached web content box ticked. Click on Clear, and you’re all done.

Cache Clearing on Safari

So here we are in Safari. On the top-left corner, next to the Apple icon, you will see the Safari menu. Click on that and then to Preferences. A box will pop up; here, click on the Privacy tab. Next to the Cookies and website data title, you will see the Manage website data button. Click on this button, and another screen will pop up. Here, you can select Remove all and clear the cache. Now, the problem with Safari is that it does not give you a choice whether you want to remove just the cache or just the Cookies. So this is going to remove cookies as well, which is a bit of a pain because you are going to log out of everything.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope this article has been helpful in clearing up any confusion or questions you may have had about cache. From understanding what it is and how it works to learning the steps to clear it, we’ve covered all the essentials. As technology continues to advance and our browsing habits become more complex, cache plays a significant role in ensuring efficient and quick loading times for websites. So next time you encounter a slow loading page or outdated information, consider giving your cache a clean and see the difference it can make.