How and Why to Clear Your Browser Cache

Browsers help us facilitate the searches we make every day. When you visit a website, the browser saves site information in the form of cache and cookies. By deleting them, you force the browser to display the latest version of the site or web application, as well as resolve some loading or formatting issues on the sites.

What is web cache memory?

Web cache memory stores data from web pages or static resources such as pages, entries, articles, etc. The cache is responsible for speeding up or slowing down the computer and the browser. It also saves bandwidth. It is a space reserved by the browser in the device’s storage on the hard drive, SSD, or mobile device memory.

The importance of cleaning or emptying the cache

It is necessary to clean the cache from time to time because it often takes up space, which slows down our computer. Not only does it get rid of unnecessary information, but it also frees up space on the hard drive and optimizes the computer. It is appropriate to do maintenance every 3 or 6 months; this way, the computer will work smoothly because if done too frequently, it will have to retrieve data from the pages again, making it slower.

Advantages of web cache memory

• It allows access to recently viewed or loaded files within the browser without consuming extra data or bandwidth.
• The server speeds up in displaying its home page much faster.

How to clear the browser cache?

Chrome

1. Open the browser and go to Chrome’s tools. This option is located in the upper right corner and is displayed as 3 vertical dots.

2. Click on History.

3. A new tab with the browsing history will open. Next, click on Clear browsing data.

4. The tab corresponding to clearing browsing data will open. In the Basic menu:

• Select the time range. To delete everything, select All.
• Check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”

Finally, click on Clear data.

Opera

1. Open the settings menu, which is located in the upper right corner.

2. Scroll down the menu to the privacy and security section. In the browsing data section, click on Clear browsing data.

3. In the tab that appears:

• Select the time range. To delete everything, select All time.
• Check the boxes “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”

Firefox

1. Open the settings menu. This is located in the upper right corner and is displayed as 3 horizontal lines.

2. Click on Options.

3. In the tab that appears next, click on Privacy & Security.

4. Scroll down to find the History option. Then, click on Clear History.

5. In the window that appears:

• Select the time range to delete. To delete everything, select the option Everything.
• Check the boxes “Cookies” and “Cache.”

Finally, click on OK.

Microsoft Edge

1. Go to the settings and more menu. This menu is located in the upper right corner and is displayed as 3 horizontal dots.

2. Click on History.

3. Click on the Clear history option.

4. Check the boxes “Cookies and saved website data” and “Cached data and files.” Finally, click on Clear.

Safari

1. Open the settings menu. It is located in the upper right corner and is displayed as a gear.

2. After that, click on the Preferences section.

3. A window will open. Click on the Privacy menu.

4. Click on the option to Remove all website data; this will delete the cache data.

Remember that keeping the cache clean will help you have the latest updates of frequently visited pages, optimize your computer, and speed up its performance. Therefore, giving it maintenance from time to time will be of great help to your equipment.