What are HTTP caching headers and how do they work?

What are HTTP caching headers and how do they work?

HTTP caching headers are directives sent by the server to control how responses are cached by browsers and intermediate proxies. They help improve performance by reducing the need to fetch the same resources repeatedly.

Can you explain the different types of caching headers?

Sure! Some common caching headers include 'Cache-Control', 'Expires', 'ETag', and 'Last-Modified'. Each serves a specific purpose in managing how and when resources are cached.

What does the 'Cache-Control' header do?

The 'Cache-Control' header specifies directives for caching mechanisms in both requests and responses. It can control how long a resource is cached, whether it can be cached at all, and if it should be revalidated.

How can I use these headers to improve my website's performance?

By properly configuring caching headers, you can reduce load times and server requests, leading to a faster user experience. For example, setting long expiration times for static resources can significantly enhance performance.