Web Page Caching

Browser cache is a mechanism for temporarily storing(caching) web content, such as images and text, to artificially speed the loading of pages.

A browser stores copies of documents the first time you visit the page. After your initial visit, if there has not been a significant change in the page, the browser(Chrome and Safari for example) loads the page from the cache. This has the maddening effect of making it seem as though the page has not changed when it has. Minor changes such as text corrections are not enough, normally, to trigger a re-cache. To remedy the problem you must clear your cache.

Important: you need to leave the page you are trying to view BEFORE you empty your cache or it will not delete the files for the page you are on.

If your using Chrome or Chromium we highly recommend Classic Cache Killer click on it and it empties out your cache every page load. Classic Cache Killer

Clearing the cache in Chrome:

1. Hold down CTRL and SHIFT then press Delete key
2. Make sure "Empty the cache" is checked
3. Click on the button Clear browsing data
4. return to the page

Clearing the cache in Safari:

1. Click on the Safari tab at the top right of your screen and choose Preferences from the dropdown menu.
2. Click the Advanced tab of the menu that pops up.
3. At the end of the tab, select the " Show Develop menu in menu bar" box and close the Preferences menu.
4. Click the Develop tab from the Safari menu at the top of the page.
5. Click Empty Caches from the dropdown menu.

Clearing the cache in Firefox:

1. Go to the Tools menu and select Options
2. Select the Advanced panel
3. Click the Network tab
4. In the Offline Storage section, click Clear Now

Clearing the cache in Internet Explorer:

1. Select Tools > Internet Options
2. Click on the General tab and then the Delete... button.
3. Make sure to uncheck Preserve Favorites website data and check both Temporary Internet Files and Cookies then click Delete.

One day I hope this annoyance is fixed but every browser on the market insists on using caching and gives you no option to simply shut it off. They actually have to use caching or the browser wouldn't function, but the moment you leave the page the files are no longer needed. Most people are totally unaware of the cache and have no idea how to clear it.

Another problem cache causes is that once you have visited your own website all the files cached on your computer causing the page to appear to load quickly. This is not the case for first time visitors to your website. Most website owners are painfully unaware of how unbearably slow their websites load because they are looking at cache.

Try emptying your cache and revisiting your website. It's not as fast as you think.