Application Caching, Done Properly
Storing the results of expensive operations, such as database queries or API calls, in a fast cache like Redis so they can be reused.
Marcus Adeyemi
At a glance
- Stores Redis, Memcached, files and databases
- Invalidation cached data must be cleared or expired when sources change
- Scope user-specific data must not be shared between users
- Laravel provides a unified cache API
Why it matters
Why it matters: Caching can make applications dramatically faster, but stale or incorrectly scoped caches cause bugs and data leaks.
Best practice
- Cache expensive, frequently used data
- Set expiry times and invalidate on changes
- Include user or tenant identifiers in private cache keys
- Monitor cache hit rates
- Keep the application working if the cache is unavailable
Common pitfalls
Watch out for:
- Caching personalized data under shared keys
- Caches that never expire
- Caching to hide slow code that should be fixed
- Relying on cache for data durability
When to call in a specialist
Bottom line Bring in help when applications slow under load or show stale data.
Where this comes from
- Laravel Documentation — Cache
- Microsoft Learn — Caching guidance
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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Where to go next
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