Learn how to clear your PC browser cache

To speed up browsing and allow access to information in a practical and fast way, the main browsers use the cache as a source of access to important data. However, this excess data can slow down the performance of the software over time, causing slow access to certain websites and also taking up a large amount of space in the PC's memory.

Therefore, the showmetech put together this tutorial to teach you how to clear your PC browser cache. As here several browsers are used by Brazilian users, we will explain the process among the most darlings: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera e safari. In addition, we will also bring some explanations, such as what is cache in the browser and how does it work.

What is caching and how does it work?

cache is the term used to classify a specific set of saved information that reflects static components of the site, such as images and documents in general that make up the page. This is where the device's temporary files are located. Whenever a website is visited, some information is downloaded to the computer to speed up the loading of the content. This also happens with images, sounds, videos, certain scripts and code.

With this data saved in advance, the browser can load pages faster, as it does not need to request all the data from the Internet, loading it with the help of the database made by the cache. In addition to bringing greater agility, this process also saves bandwidth, since it will not be necessary to re-download such information.

However, this storage has a negative point: it can take up a good amount of space on the machine. Some browsers have a cache size limit manager, the problem is that this maximum cap can be too high. O Firefox, for example, can take up to 1 GB of space your hard drive with data that may not even be that relevant. It is for this reason that the habit of clearing the cache from time to time is recommended.

Difference between cache, cookies and history

A question that arises when we talk about features present in browsers is the difference between cache, cookies and history. We have already explained here that the browser cache is a temporary storage that has the purpose of making websites faster. It works by saving static files to your local computer's memory. Whenever a browser is asked for a specific file, it first checks if the resource is available locally. If it is not found, the browser will send a request to the internet server and will save this file as a data in cache.

Already cookie it is a small file stored on a visitor's device and contains data specific to a particular customer. The term client in this case refers specifically to the device used by the user when accessing a certain page.

Os Cookies help you store useful information about a visitor, such as their login information, so they don't have to manually log in each time, or the items in their shopping cart. You Cookies they can also be used to track and identify visitors, even between different visits to the website. In this way, cookies are only used to store text-based data such as IP addresses, session IDs, visit histories, etc. – you cannot use them to store an image, as the browser cache allows.

O Historical navigation in turn is just a listing of visited addresses. The history of visited sites is very useful when you need to find an address that you saw before, but that you no longer remember. They are usually arranged chronologically.  

Where is the cache located on the PC?

Each browser has its own directory where its cache is stored. Using as an example the Opera, you can find your browser's cached files by opening the directory: C:\Users\ \AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Cache. As it is not so practical to follow all these paths simply to delete this data, browsers have tools that allow the user to permanently delete the database.

How to clear PC browser cache

Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome e click the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Then go to “Settings";

2. Use the search field and search for "cache“. then select "Clean navigation data".

3. Finally, just choose the desired period, select the option “Cached images and files” and click on “Clear data”.

Mozilla Firefox

1. click on the menu  and select Settings;

2. Select the panel Privacy and Security. in the section Cookies and website data, Click Clear data;

3. Uncheck the Cookies option and website data. with the option Stored content from websites checked, click the button Clean. When closing the window, the settings will be saved.

Microsoft Edge

1. Open Microsoft Edge and press the keys CTRL + SHIFT + DEL simultaneously. A settings screen will appear. Deselect all options, leaving only Cached files and images selected. Finally, click clear now.

Opera

1. With the browser open, click on the Opera icon, located in the upper left corner. Then go to options Settings;

2. Scroll the mouse to low to the section Privacy and Security and then click Clean navigation data;

3. Check the option Images and files cached and finally click on the button Clear data;

safari

From the Development menu, select Clear Caches. If this menu is not visible to you, follow the steps below to enable it.

1. In the menu safari, select Preferences;
2. select the tab Advanced;
3. Check the option Show Development menu in the menu bar;

4. Now, just close the preferences and select Clear Caches from the Development menu, which should now be visible.

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Source: Geeks for Geeks.