Cachepalvelimet

Cachepalvelimet, known in English as cache servers, are a type of server that stores copies of frequently accessed web content to speed up delivery to users. When a user requests a web page, the cache server first checks if it has a recent copy of that page stored. If it does, it serves the content directly from its local storage, which is much faster than fetching it from the origin server across the internet. This process significantly reduces latency and bandwidth consumption.

There are various types of cache servers, including forward caches and reverse caches. Forward caches, often used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or large organizations, store popular content requested by multiple users within their network. Reverse caches, commonly used by website owners, sit in front of their origin servers to intercept requests from external users, thereby offloading traffic from the origin servers and improving their performance and availability. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are a large-scale implementation of reverse caching, utilizing a distributed network of servers globally to deliver content rapidly to users based on their geographical location.

Cache servers can store different types of data, such as web pages, images, videos, and scripts. The effectiveness of a cache server depends on factors like its storage capacity, cache hit ratio (the percentage of requests served from the cache), and its proximity to the end-users. Regular invalidation or expiration of cached content is crucial to ensure users receive the most up-to-date information.