What are the best practices for using output caching?

What are the best practices for using output caching?

Output caching is a technique to store the output of a web page or API response to improve performance. Best practices include setting appropriate cache duration, using cache keys effectively, and invalidating cache when data changes.

How do I set the cache duration?

You can set the cache duration using the 'Cache-Control' header in your HTTP response. For example, 'Cache-Control: max-age=3600' will cache the response for one hour.

What are cache keys and why are they important?

Cache keys are unique identifiers for cached items. They are important because they help differentiate between different cached outputs, ensuring that the correct data is served to users.

How can I invalidate the cache when data changes?

You can invalidate the cache by either setting a short cache duration or programmatically removing the cached item when the underlying data changes, using methods like cache busting.

Are there any tools to help manage output caching?

Yes, there are several tools and libraries available, such as Redis, Memcached, and built-in caching mechanisms in frameworks like ASP.NET and Django.