What is the difference between cache busting and cache control?

Can you explain the difference between cache busting and cache control?

Sure! Cache control is a mechanism that allows web developers to specify how long a resource should be cached by browsers. Cache busting, on the other hand, is a technique used to force browsers to fetch the latest version of a resource, often by changing the URL.

Why would I need to use cache busting?

You would use cache busting to ensure that users see the most up-to-date content, especially after making changes to files like CSS or JavaScript. It prevents old versions from being displayed.

Can you give me an example of cache busting?

Certainly! A common method is appending a version number or a hash to the file name, like style.css?v=2.0 or script.js?hash=abc123.

How does cache control work in practice?

Cache control works by using HTTP headers like Cache-Control and Expires to tell the browser how long to store a resource before checking for a new version.