What are some effective caching strategies for APIs?

What are some effective caching strategies for APIs?

There are several effective caching strategies for APIs, including in-memory caching, distributed caching, and HTTP caching. Each has its own use cases and benefits.

Can you explain in-memory caching?

In-memory caching stores data in the server's RAM, allowing for faster access. It's ideal for frequently accessed data but can be limited by memory size.

What about distributed caching?

Distributed caching involves multiple servers sharing cached data, which improves scalability and fault tolerance. It's great for large applications.

How does HTTP caching work?

HTTP caching uses headers like 'Cache-Control' to instruct browsers and proxies on how to cache responses, reducing server load and latency.

What are the common pitfalls to avoid with caching?

Common pitfalls include caching stale data, not invalidating cache properly, and over-caching, which can lead to increased complexity.