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What is Browser Cache?

The web browser cache is called "Temporary Internet Files" in Microsoft's Internet Explorer (MSIE). Browser cache serves these critical functions:

Local Storage

The browser cache provides local storage of files previously accessed and downloaded from a web server.

Faster Loading

Because files are stored locally, previously viewed pages load faster, as long as they are stored in cache.

Reduced Network Congestion

Every time you access a web site, you are downloading files. Without the cache, you would have to download every page, image and sound file all over again. This creates additional load at the web server and additional load on the Internet routes and paths that lead to that server. Any request for a page that is cached on your local computer reduces load at the web server and on the Internet. Using your Internet cache is simply good nettiquette.

Why do you Need Browser Cache?

The slower your Internet connection is, the more you need a browser cache. With a slow Internet connection, it can take a long time to download all the files that are part of the web page you are viewing. If you have those files stored locally from a time you previously viewed the page, your web browser can retrieve it later from the browser cache instead. Your computer's hard drive is still (if not thousands) of times faster than the Internet connection you are using.

What is stored in the Browser Cache?

1. HTML files (the guts of a web page)
2. Images (.jpg, .gif, .png )
3. Sound files (.wav, .mp3, .mpg)
4. Active X objects and controls (MSIE)
5. Java class files
6. Cookies (actually, cookies are usually stored in their own cache).

Managing Your Web Browser's Cache

You may need to periodically do maintenance on your web browser's caches. Here is a short list of the sort of things you may need to do:

1. Delete Cookies
2. Delete Files (deleting cache)
3. Delete controls and plugins
4. Delete certificates

Accessing Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) Browser Cache Settings

1. Where to change Explorer's settings:
   Launch MSIE > Click TOOLS menu > Click INTERNET OPTIONS
2. Checking the 'freshness' of a web page
   A web page is sometimes altered at the server between the times you view it. Increasing the frequency at which your web browser checks servers for new versions of web pages will prevent you from getting 'stale' pages. This is especially important for sites such as CNN which can change their web page content hourly or even minute-by-minute.
3. Storage location
   You can set just where on your computer your web browser stores pages. Why might you change this? Suppose your computer has a lot of computers installed--that will use up most of the disk space on the C: drive (Microsoft computers). By changing the cache to a folder on the D: drive, you might be able to use a larger cache.
4. Size of cache on disk
   You can set just how large the cache is. This means pages you view frequently are more likely to be stored on your computer and thus show up faster. However, the larger the cache is, the longer it takes to clear it and the more memory the web browser needs. It may also take longer to start up.
5. BUTTON: Move folder
   Click this button to set where to change
6. BUTTON: View Files
7. BUTTON: View Objects

Netscape Browser Cache Settings

Coming soon..

Mozilla Firefox Browser Settings (coming soon)

Coming soon..

Browser cache-related problems

From time to time, you may run into a problem with a website. Frequently, clearing the browser cache will correct the issue. Microsoft's Internet Explorer has, for many years, had problems rendering pages with dynamic content. It caches content that is dynamic, loads the content from cache only and refuses to download the latest version of a page. This can usually be dealt with by pressing CTRL-R on the keyboard or holding down the CTRL key on the keyboard while clicking the "Refresh" icon with the mouse.

Sometimes, a page in the cache becomes corrupted--it won't render right after you viewed it the first time. Just empty the cache to delete the locally cached version of the page. Your web browser also caches information about which pages it was successful reaching and loading. Clearing the cache often corrects errors in rendered pages.

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