discover-caching

Caching stores frequently accessed data in fast storage layers like Redis or memory, bypassing slower database queries. Implement Redis caching for hot data and configure HTTP caching headers to serve content from edge nodes or browsers, cutting database load and response latency significantly.

Cache invalidation strategies include TTL-based expiration, event-driven purging, and dependency tracking. Use TTL for data that tolerates brief staleness, event-driven invalidation for critical updates, and dependency tracking for complex relationships. Choose based on data freshness requirements and consistency guarantees your application needs.

HTTP caching headers like Cache-Control, ETag, and Last-Modified instruct browsers and CDNs how long to store responses. Set Cache-Control with max-age for static assets, use ETags for validation, and leverage CDN edge caching to serve content geographically closer, reducing server load and latency.

Service Workers intercept network requests and cache responses locally in the browser, enabling offline functionality and faster repeat visits. Pair with HTTP caching and CDN strategies to create a multi-layer caching architecture that improves performance across network conditions.

Redis caching patterns include cache-aside, write-through, and write-behind strategies. Use cache-aside for read-heavy workloads with lazy loading, write-through for strong consistency, and write-behind for write-heavy scenarios. Combine with TTL expiration and invalidation logic to maintain data freshness.