What is a cache?
By Mark Boreland ·
In short
- A cache is a saved copy of a file kept somewhere fast, so the next request can be answered without fetching it again.
- Browsers cache locally, and a CDN caches at servers near the visitor.
- Caching is the main reason a shared link feels instant the second time someone opens it.
A cache is a stored copy kept close to where it will be needed next. Your browser caches images and scripts on your own machine so a page you revisit does not re-download everything. A CDN caches files on servers near visitors so the file does not travel from the origin every time. In both cases the idea is the same, which is to do the work once and reuse the result instead of repeating it.
For shared files this is why the second open is quicker than the first. The first visitor pulls the file to a nearby edge server, and everyone after them is served that cached copy at once. NudgeHost leans on this through the network that powers how a CDN works, so a page you publish an HTML page stays fast even under a burst of traffic. Heavy assets benefit most, which is why an optimized image you shrink an image with WebP before uploading caches small and serves quickly.
Caching has one wrinkle worth knowing. When you replace a file, a previously cached copy can linger briefly until it refreshes, so a change is not always visible to everyone in the same instant. This usually clears in moments. Hosting is free to start and the free plan covers the higher limits. For the person sharing a file, the cache is invisible and entirely upside, meaning faster loads with nothing to manage.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Why does my updated file still show the old version?
A cached copy can linger for a short time after you replace a file. It refreshes on its own, usually within moments, and then everyone sees the new version.
Do I control the caching myself?
No configuration is needed. NudgeHost sets sensible caching so files load fast on repeat visits without any input from you.
Does caching affect a file only I open?
Your browser still caches it locally, so your own repeat visits are quicker. The bigger gains show up when many people open the same link.
Related tools
Other things you can do on NudgeHost.
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