Cache Revalidation
Cache revalidation is the process a cache uses to check with the Origin Server to verify if a stored file is still up-to-date. Instead of simply re-downloading the file, the cache sends a conditional request using headers like an ETag. If the file on the server has not changed, the server responds with a lightweight 304 Not Modified status, confirming that the cache can continue to use its stored copy. This process is highly efficient as it avoids transferring the full file if it's not necessary.
Related web performance terms
- CDN (Content Delivery Network)
A CDN, or Content Delivery Network, is a globally distributed network of servers designed to deliver web content to users quickly and efficiently.
- CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing)
CORS is a browser security feature that uses HTTP headers to manage whether a web page from one domain is allowed to fetch resources from another domain.
- CPU time
CPU time is the amount of time the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a user's device spends processing the scripts and rendering a webpage.
- Cache
A cache is a high-speed, temporary storage layer designed to store copies of website files (like HTML, images, and scripts) closer to the user.