Imagine you’re trying to remember a song lyric, a song you’ve not heard in a while. The first time you might struggle a little, but the second time, your brain will remember it instantly. That is how caching sort of works. Your website stores information so it doesn’t have to reload it every single time from scratch, making it faster and more efficient.

Caching (which is pronounced “cach-ing”) is a very important web development technique that improves not only improves site speed, but also reduces server load, and enhances user experience. In 2025, with Goggle’s Core Web Vitals shaping SEO rankings and users expecting instant page loads, caching is now essential.

Different Types of Caching

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Different caching methods target different parts of your site’s performance. Here are the different types of caching methods:

1. Browser Caching

Browser caching stores static assets (like image, JavaScript, and CSS files) directly on a user’s device. Instead of downloading these files again and again each time they visit, their browser retrieves them from local storage, making pages load much faster.

Benefits of Browser Caching:

Faster page loads: Users don’t have to wait for repeat downloads.
Lower server load: Fewer requests sent to the web server means better performance.
Better user experience: A faster site keeps visitors engaged.

If you update a website image or style, users might still see the old version, which is why cache expiration settings are really important to manage.

2. Page Caching

Page caching saves a ready-made version of the page, so it loads instantly instead of being generated from scratch with every single visit.

How It Works:

Normally, when a visitor lands on a page, the server processes multiple database queries before displaying the page.
With page caching, the server saves a ready-to-go version of the page and delivers it instantly to visitors.

When to Use Page Caching:

Page caching is great for blogs, landing pages, and informational pages. But it’s not so great for dynamic sites like live chat platforms or personalised dashboards, where content changes frequently.

3. Server-Side Caching

This method stores data on the hosting server itself, which reduces workload and improves performance. In 2025, AI-driven caching techniques have made this process even more efficient by predicting and preloading content before users even request it!

Common Types of Server-Site Caching:

Object Caching: This stores repeated database queries for faster access.
Opcode Caching: This saves compiled PHP scripts, so they don’t need to be processed repeatedly.
Edge Caching: This uses a CDN (Content Delivery Network) to cache content closer to the user for global performance boosts.

4. Content Delivery Network (CDN) Caching

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A CDN caches website content across multiple global servers, helping users access pages faster no matter where they are in the world. But why do CDNs matter?

Improve Load Times by serving content from the nearest server.
Reduce Bandwidth Usage and offloads traffic from your hosting provider.
Boost Reliability by preventing server overloads and downtime.

The Key Benefits of Caching

Caching holds many benefits, some of which include:

Faster Load Times & Smoother Experience: Caching reduces network traffic and improves load times, which directly boosts site engagement and conversions.
Lower Costs: Reducing server requests means lower bandwidth costs, which is especially helpful for high-traffic sites.
Content Availability (Even If Servers Go Down): In cases of short-term network issues or server failures, cached content keeps your site accessible, even when your server has a few hiccups.

The Downside of Caching

Caching is great, until it isn’t. The most common issue is seeing outdated content.

For example, if you change an image on your homepage but you can still see the old one, your browser may have cached the previous version. This is especially frustrating during website development, where clients might see outdated pages instead of the latest updates.

The Solution

If you’re experiencing issues with your content, the solution is to clear your cache!

Here’s how to do it:

Clearing Browser Cache (Google Chrome Example)

Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner
Select More tools > Clear browsing data
Choose Cached images and files, then click Clear data.

Clearing Cache in WordPress (If Using a Caching Plugin)

Log into your WordPress dashboard.
Navigate to your caching plugin settings (e.g WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or Cloudflare APO).
Click Clear Cache or Purge All Caches.

The Role of Caching in SEO & Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, and CLS) prioritise page speed and user experience for ranking. A well-cached website improves:

LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): Which means faster pages will rank higher.
FID (First Input Delay): Helps lower server load, which equals better interactivity.
CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Cached layouts keep pages from jumping around while loading.

So Is Caching Essential in 2025?

Absolutely! Whether it’s browser caching, page caching, server-side caching, or CDNs, caching is non-negotiable for a fast, high-performing website. It’s all about balance, your site should be lightning fast without showing any outdated content.

Do you need a faster website?

At Creative Brand Design, we specialise in high-performance websites, making sure your site runs fast and effortlessly while delivering an exceptional user experience.

Want to speed up your website? Let’s talk.

Cover Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash

What Is Caching and Why Does It Matter in Web Development?