Dictionary term
Caching
Also called cache
Web/DevIntermediate
Storing a copy of a response or computed result so later requests can reuse it instead of fetching or recomputing it, for as long as the copy is considered fresh.
In plain English
Keeping a ready copy of something so the next person gets it instantly instead of waiting for it to be made again.
Analogy
Like keeping popular items on the counter instead of fetching them from the stockroom every time.
Why it matters
Caching makes pages fast and cuts API and database costs, but stale caches are a common cause of "I updated it and nothing changed" bugs.
In practice
A Next.js page caches a pricing list fetched from Supabase and revalidates it when an admin edits a price, rather than querying on every visit.
Related terms
Sources
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