What is the purpose of cache busting and how can you achieve it?
Câu trả lời
Cache busting is a technique used by web developers to ensure that users always receive the most recent version of a website or application, particularly after updates or changes have been made to the site's content, design, or functionality. The purpose of cache busting is to prevent browsers from serving cached versions of files, which can be outdated due to modifications made by the developers. This is crucial for maintaining a consistent user experience, preventing compatibility issues, and ensuring accurate analytics data[2][3].
To achieve cache busting, developers can use several methods:
Query String Parameters: This involves appending a unique identifier, such as a version number or a timestamp, to the URL of a resource. For example, adding ?v=1.2 at the end of a CSS file URL. Each time the file is updated, the version number is incremented, which forces the browser to download the new version instead of using the cached one[2].
File Name Versioning: Similar to query strings, but instead of appending a parameter to the URL, the file name itself is changed. For example, style.v1.css would become style.v2.css after an update. This change in the file name makes the browser perceive it as a new file, prompting a fresh download[2][3].
File Path Versioning: In this method, the entire path of the file is changed by including a version directory in the path. For example, /v1/style.css would change to /v2/style.css after an update. This method also forces the browser to download the updated file[2].
