What are service workers and how do they handle caching?

What are service workers and how do they handle caching?

Service workers are scripts that run in the background of a web application, allowing for features like caching, push notifications, and background sync. They intercept network requests and can serve cached responses, improving load times and offline capabilities.

How does caching work with service workers?

Caching with service workers involves storing responses to network requests in a cache. When a request is made, the service worker can check the cache first before going to the network, allowing for faster responses and offline access.

Can I customize the caching strategy?

Yes, you can customize the caching strategy by defining how and when to cache resources. Common strategies include Cache First, Network First, and Stale While Revalidate.

What are some best practices for using service workers?

Some best practices include keeping your service worker lightweight, using versioning for cache management, and ensuring proper fallback mechanisms for offline scenarios.