skill-php-cache

You can cache database query results in PHP using the cache-aside pattern with a remember(...) method, which atomically fetches and stores values using APCu or file-based drivers without requiring Redis or Memcached.

Yes, PHP caching with APCu works on shared hosting and VPS environments. The system also includes a file-based cache driver with automatic selection and cron purge capabilities for environments where APCu is unavailable.

You can set up TTL-based invalidation for PHP page fragment caching by configuring the cache driver and using the built-in fragment caching helpers for views and partials, which support automatic time-based expiration.

The best way to add HTTP cache headers in PHP is using built-in HTTP caching helpers that manage ETag, Last-Modified, and Cache-Control headers, integrating with the underlying APCu or file-based cache layer.

Yes, you can implement rate limiting in PHP using a file-based cache. The caching layer supports rate limiting alongside both APCu and file-based drivers, with automatic driver selection based on your environment.

You should avoid file-based caching when you need high-throughput in-memory access and APCu is available, since file-based caching relies on disk I/O and requires a cron purge for cleanup, making it slower for frequent read operations.