How do Cache-Control directives work?

What are Cache-Control directives and how do they work?

Cache-Control directives are HTTP headers used to specify caching policies for web resources. They control how, when, and for how long a resource can be cached by browsers and intermediate caches.

Can you give me some examples of Cache-Control directives?

Sure! Some common Cache-Control directives include 'no-cache', 'no-store', 'max-age', and 'public'. For instance, 'max-age=3600' tells the browser to cache the resource for one hour.

What does 'no-cache' mean in this context?

The 'no-cache' directive means that the cached resource must be revalidated with the origin server before being served to the user, ensuring that they receive the most up-to-date version.

How do these directives affect website performance?

Proper use of Cache-Control directives can significantly improve website performance by reducing load times and server requests, as cached resources can be served quickly from the user's browser.