Level 2 Beginner’s Guide to Caching: Insights from WA Training

byRobbyofstone

559 followers

11 months ago

Level 2 Beginner’s Guide to Caching: Insights from WA Training

When I started building websites, I often heard people saying, “Clear your cache!” But no one ever stopped to explain what that really meant. This week, after months of hearing the term and occasionally fumbling through browser settings, it all finally clicked. Clearing your cache isn’t just good advice—it’s essential for keeping websites running smoothly and devices working efficiently. And let me tell you, the discovery of what caching means for smartphones was nothing short of a lightning strike moment! 🌩⚡

Let me break down what I’ve learned, in case you’ve also been wondering what caching and cookies are really all about.

Caching and Cookies: The Basics

For those who haven’t dug into this yet:

• Caching stores temporary files (images, scripts, etc.) so websites and apps load faster next time.
• Cookies save bits of information, like your logins, preferences, or items in your cart.

Sounds helpful, right? The problem comes when this stored data:

• Gets outdated (you see old versions of a website).
• Clutters your devices, making them run slower.
• Creates glitches in your website customization work.

PCs, Laptops, and Tablets: The Usual Suspects

Most of us know to clear our cache on desktop browsers (like Chrome, Edge, or Safari). But here’s the thing: when you’re working inside the WA platform or customizing your WordPress website, clearing the cache isn’t optional—it’s essential.

And let’s not forget about plugins—yes, even plugins can act up due to outdated caches!

Pro Tip:
If you’re editing your site through WA’s Site Manager, make it a habit to click the “Clear Cache” option whenever you’ve made changes. And if you’ve stepped away from the basic WA setup—using custom plugins or themes—you might need a dedicated caching plugin (like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache) to manage it all.

Many times in my learning journey over the past 7 months, I’ve been told to clear my caches. Would I have done that much earlier if I’d known what and where they were? Absolutely! 🤣😂 And here’s something I didn’t know until now: each browser has its own cache. So even if you’ve set a default browser, you’ll still need to clear the cache in the others you occasionally use.

But the real lightning strike moment came when I learned about smartphone caches.

Smartphones: The Overlooked Trouble Spot

Here’s where it gets really interesting. Until recently, I hadn’t considered how much temporary data is stored on smartphones—or how it could mess things up.

Think about it: your phone juggles browser caches, app caches, and cookies all at once. That’s a lot of clutter! If you don’t clear it regularly, you might notice:

• Websites loading weirdly or showing old versions.
• Apps crashing, freezing, or running slowly.
• General sluggishness across your device.

What You Need to Know

1. For Browsers (Chrome, Safari, etc.):
2. • Go to the browser settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data.
   • Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies.”
   • Clear it!
2. For Apps:
3. • Head to your phone’s Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Clear Cache.
   • Do this for apps you use often (social media, email, etc.).
3. Consider App-Specific Tools:
4. • Some apps (like Facebook or Instagram) have their own internal settings to clear caches. Check for options under Account or Settings in the app.
4. For All Browsers on Your Device:
5. • Each browser (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Firefox) has its own cache. If you switch browsers frequently, you’ll need to clear the cache in each one.

The Good News: Free Tools to Help

There are free tools (or paid versions with added features) to make cache management easier:

• CCleaner or Files by Google can clean up caches across your device in one go.
• One Click Cleaner (for Microsoft Edge): This extension lets you quickly clear browsing data with a single click, making it super convenient for Edge users.

When to Clear the Cache

If you’re working on websites, it’s especially important to clear your cache:

• After making updates to your site (so you see the latest version).
• If something looks broken or isn’t working as expected.
• Regularly, to keep things running smoothly.

My Experience

This week, I learned how to take control of caching and cookies across my devices—and it’s been a game-changer. I no longer feel like I’m “stuck” when changes don’t appear or things feel slow. For anyone just starting out, I hope this clears up some confusion and gives you tools to take charge!

What problems have you had that turned out to be related to caching, cookies, or website customization? I’d love to hear your stories (and maybe avoid another minefield myself)!

Rob