How to clear cache memory using JavaScript?
Last Updated :
30 Sep, 2024
Clearing cache memory in JavaScript refers to managing or removing stored data like images, files, and resources that browsers save for faster loading. Although JavaScript cannot directly clear the browser cache, developers often use cache-busting techniques to ensure users receive updated content.
Below are the approaches to clear cache memory using JavaScript:
The Cache-Control Meta Tags approach uses HTML meta tags (cache-control, expires, and pragma) to instruct the browser not to store cached data. By disabling caching, it ensures that the browser always loads the latest version of the webpage content.
Syntax:
<meta http-equiv='cache-control' content='no-cache'>
<meta http-equiv='expires' content='0'>
<meta http-equiv='pragma' content='no-cache'>
Example: To demonstrate clearing cache memory using cache control meta tags.
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="cache-control" content="no-cache">
<meta http-equiv="expires" content="0">
<meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache">
<title>Page Title</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Page content -->
</body>
</html>
Output:
The meta tags included in the HTML code instruct the browser not to cache the webpage.
As a result, when loading the webpage, the browser will not cache its contents.
while ensuring that the page is always loaded without relying on cached data.
Method 2: Versioning File References
Versioning File References involves appending a version parameter to file URLs (e.g., script.js?version=1.0). When the file content changes, the version number is updated, forcing the browser to fetch the latest file instead of using the cached version.
Example: To demonstrate clearing cache memory using version file reference.
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script src="filename.js?version=1.0"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css?version=1.0">
<title>Page Title</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Page content -->
</body>
</html>
Output:
By appending a version parameter to file references (filename.js?version=1.0 and styles.css?version=1.0),
The browser fetches the latest version of the files, bypassing cached content.
Therefore, any updates made to the files will be reflected in the browser's rendering of the page.
NOTE:
- A browser is designed in such a way that it saves all the temporary cache.
- It is so because cache memory is the main reason for the website to load faster.
- Hence there is no direct way to permanently delete it's cache memory unless certain codings are changed in your HTML code.
- There may be few other ways to achieve this, but these two are the easiest and most effective one.
Similar Reads
How to Clear all Cookies using JavaScript? Cookies allow clients and servers to exchange information via HTTP, enabling state management despite HTTP being a stateless protocol. When a server sends a response, it can pass data to the user's browser in the form of key-value pairs, which the browser stores as cookies. On subsequent requests to
2 min read
How to clear the content of a div using JavaScript? JavaScript provides the functionality of clearing the content of div. There are two methods to perform this function, one by using the innerHTML property and other by using the firstChild property and removeChild() method. Below are the approaches used to clear the content of a div using JavaScript:
3 min read
LRU Cache using JavaScript The LRU (Least Recently Used) Cache is a type of the data structure that is used to the store a limited number of items with the capability to the quickly retrieve and manage these items. When the cache reaches its limit the least recently used item is removed to the make space for the new item. Thi
3 min read
How to Handle Memory Leaks in JavaScript ? JavaScript, unlike some other programming languages, uses automatic memory management. This means the developer doesn't have to explicitly free up memory when they're done with it. However, memory leaks can still happen in JavaScript if objects are not properly cleaned up. A memory leak is a situati
9 min read
How to Fix "JavaScript Heap Out of Memory" Error? We might have encountered an error that says "JavaScript heap out of memory" while working with JavaScript. This error occurs when our application uses more memory than the default limit set by Node.js. When this error occurs our program crashes and we cannot proceed with our work. In this article,
3 min read
How to clear cache on a Mac In the fast-paced world of technology, our trusty Mac computers can sometimes start to slow down and behave a bit sluggish. If you've ever experienced the frustration of a Mac that seems to be running as if it's stuck in quicksand, fear not – you're not alone. The culprit, more often than not, is a
10 min read