Home Tech How to clear your browser cache and why you should do it

How to clear your browser cache and why you should do it

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Chrome Screenshot

Every web browser It has what is called a cache: a temporary storage space for web pages that synchronizes online content with your computer or mobile device. This synchronization is designed to help websites load faster and put less pressure on Internet bandwidth.

It’s a good idea and works well most of the time, which is why all browsers do it. However, it can cause problems. By its very nature, cached content can become outdated – browsers will try to make sure this doesn’t happen, but it can happen, and that could mean you’re seeing information, links and images that are no longer accurate or relevant. .

What’s more, discrepancies between cached content and what’s actually on the Internet can also cause all kinds of strange errors, such as pages that don’t load correctly or web applications that don’t work.

Cached content can also represent a security vulnerability. Data stored on your computer about the websites you’ve visited can tell a story of your online activity, and while it would require physical access to your computer and a trained hacker to find it, it’s a possibility.

For all these reasons, you may want to periodically clear cached pages. Clearing the cache effectively resets the browser’s relationship with the web page and can often fix problems with a site.

Please note that cached files are different from cookies. Cookies are pieces of information saved by websites that give them details about who you are and where you are, so you don’t have to log in every time you visit Gmail, for example. The cache contains different information such as images and page furniture.

There are also reasons to clear cookies from your browser, but we’ll focus on the cache here. Here’s how to get the job done no matter what browser you’re using.

Google Chrome

Clear the cache in Google Chrome.

Courtesy of David Nield

In Chrome on the desktop, click the three dots (top right), then Settings. Open the Privacy & Security tap, click Delete navigation dataand then select Cached images and files under the Essential eyelash.

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