# What is Caching?

> Caching means storing ready-made copies of web pages and files so they can be delivered instantly instead of being rebuilt or re-downloaded on every visit.

- Source: https://nerdsharks.com/glossary/caching
- Publisher: Nerdsharks (Exeter, Devon, UK)
- Updated: 2026-09-26

Also called: cache, browser cache, page cache, clear cache.

Many websites build each page from scratch every time someone visits, pulling content from a database. Caching saves the finished result so the next visitor gets it straight away.

It happens in several places: on the server, on a CDN, and in the visitor's own browser, which keeps copies of things like your logo so it does not download them again on the next page.

The one downside is that people sometimes see an old version after you make a change, until the cache is cleared. That is why a developer may say ‘clear your cache’ when you cannot see an update.

## Why it matters for a small business

Good caching is one of the cheapest ways to make a site faster, which keeps impatient mobile visitors from leaving. If you ever update your prices and still see the old ones, caching is usually why, and it is nothing to panic about.

**Example:** A plumber updates his call-out charge but still sees the old figure on his phone. A refresh and a cache clear shows the new one; the site was fine all along.