When discussing the improvement of website loading speeds and reducing server load, HTTP caching comes to mind.
In this regard, RFC 9111 is one of the most important documents that comprehensively covers the principles and concepts of HTTP caching.
One of the key concepts addressed in this RFC is the term
This is a GET request for the page
Specifies which domain the request is being sent to, in this case
This line in the Cache-Control sets the value of
In this regard, RFC 9111 is one of the most important documents that comprehensively covers the principles and concepts of HTTP caching.
One of the key concepts addressed in this RFC is the term
max-age
.
Why is max-age important?
max-age
can specify how long an HTTP response can remain in the browser's cache, and during this period, there is no need to request it again from the server. This leads to improved performance and reduced latency.
How does max-age work?
This property is defined in theCache-Control
header, determining the duration that a HTTP response can be cached based on seconds.
Code Example and Explanation
Here's an example of howmax-age
can be used in the Cache-Control
:GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Cache-Control: max-age=3600
Code Explanation
GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
This is a GET request for the page
index.html
.Host: example.com
Specifies which domain the request is being sent to, in this case
example.com
.Cache-Control: max-age=3600
This line in the Cache-Control sets the value of
max-age=3600
, indicating that the response can be cached for up to 3600 seconds.
Benefits of Using max-age
Proper use ofmax-age
can help conserve resources on devices, preventing repeated requests to the server and improving user experience.
Conclusion
Ultimately, with a proper understanding and effective implementation of HTTP caching, especially with the use ofmax-age
, significant enhancements in website performance can be achieved. This is just one aspect of caching tools that can significantly aid in website optimization.