How do I delete and how to clean my browser's cache and cookies?

Surely every user on the Internet has faced a problem, the code for loading pages that have recently been visited is fast, but the actions performed on them, say, streaming audio or video (and even more so online games) are reduced to absolute zero. To bring the situation to a normal state will help the simplest procedure, reducible to the question of how to clean the cache and cookies in the browser.

What is an application cache ?

In fact, very few people even from modern users of PCs, laptops or mobile devices can guess what is the application cache and cookie files. Moreover, some people do not even know how to clear the cache and cookies in browsers, not to mention why it is needed at all. Now all the questions are in order.

A cache is a folder most often hidden from the user's eye, which stores temporary files that are on the hard drive to speed up access to frequently used Internet pages. In other words, if there are a lot of graphics on a particular resource, the thumbnails are saved in a specific folder. They are called Thumbnails.

By the way, it's worth noting that in Windows XP versions such files are sometimes found in the form of pictures or any additional files. In older versions, there is a single database with the extension .db, and it is by no means recommended to delete it. Actually, an uninitiated user does not even find it. It is in a hidden directory and has the name Thumbnails.db.

No, of course, you can ask about how to clear the cache and cookies in manual mode, but this will require knowing where the data is located and what should be deleted.

For an illustrative example, you can use the old Internet Explorer, whose folder was named IE5.5 and contained all the user data, including the same temporary files in the hidden Temp folder. By the way, it could be removed without any problems. When you restart the browser, as they say, on a flat site created a new directory with the same name.

What are "cookies" and what do these files answer for?

With the cookies the situation is somewhat different. Not many users know that the so-called "cookies" refer to the category of text-encoded files that contain almost complete information about the user, and not even a specific computer terminal, taking into account its external IP address, namely the registration data that we all enter when Visit the same social networks.

Now think about why and how to clean the cookies and cache in the browser used by default for Internet surfing. As you can see, all these elements represent a history of your, so to speak, confidentiality. In other words, these are just your real "traces" on the Internet (unless, of course, an anonymous proxy server or similar anonymizer program is used).

Location on the hard drive

In principle, the problem of how to clean, delete cache files and cookies is solved simply enough if you know where the data is located.

Typically, when you install any browser creates the appropriate folder. They can be visible or hidden from the user's eyes.

Nevertheless, you can find them even in the simplest case of turning on the display of hidden files and folders provided by the operating system Windows.

For example, in the same "seven" it is necessary to use the menu of the standard "Explorer" type, where you can check the display of hidden files and folders.

Do not want it? Go to the Windows program files and clean the Temp folder (or the same folder at the location of the browser you are using).

Why do I need to delete the cache and cookies?

If you really understand the issue of how to clean the cache and cookies in the browser, it is worth noting separately that the temporary data accelerates the work of the browser itself, but slows the launch of other applications (depending on the system), but at the same time uses confidential data in The same search engines.

If anyone does not know, the cookies contain the exhaustive information not only about what site you visited last time, but about the regularity of visiting a particular resource. In addition, almost any browser offers to remember your password for subsequent automatic login to a specific site.

If you have not yet understood, it is for your part open access to your own registration data. And God forbid, if there will be entered numbers of personal cards with the passwords used for access.

How to identify temporary files?

As for the recognition of temporary files, everything is simple. Indeed, temporary files are created when any program is running. Have you noticed?

After all, even if you save the most ordinary Word document in Explorer, there is an original file with the extension .doc or .docx, as well as a temporary registration component in the form of some unrecognizable file (usually ~ $ 123456.doc.tmp). Well, in general, like that. The name may vary. In any case, this is a temporary file that stores information about the structure and content of the original file at a given time. Naturally, after saving the original, this file will be deleted automatically. However, sometimes with incorrect completion of the main application, such files remain on the hard drive and, moreover, what is called "hang" in RAM in order to restore the original document when opening the corresponding program.

How to clean the cache and cookies in Internet Explorer (Microsoft Edge for Windows 10)?

The simplest example of cleaning this type of data can be the most common Internet Explorer. To do this, you need to use the service menu, which has browser properties options .

There you can select either instant cleaning of the history, cache and cookies, either complete (at the moment), or clearing and removing all items when exiting the program.

In the "top ten" this process looks a bit simpler. In the Edge browser, go to the settings menu, indicated by a three-dot button on the top right, and then select the "Clear browser data" option, where you will be asked to select the items you want to delete.

How do I clean cookies and caches in a third-party browser?

As mentioned above, in any browser you need to go to either the settings menu or the history menu.

For example, in the recently popular "360" browser from Chinese developers (in fact, as in the same Google Chrome), you need to use the History tab, where you will need to specify a clean-up using the time interval.

The same goes for the answer to the question about how to clean the cache and cookies of the browser "Yandex", because it is created in the image and likeness of the same Chrome. By the way, this technique is suitable for most of today's most popular and most popular means for Internet surfing.

By the way, here it is necessary to pay attention and for one more moment. In all, well, or almost all browsers (with rare exceptions), in the settings of the history of visits there is a special option for clearing the cache and cookies when exiting the program, in other words, after the work is completed. If you use it, cleaning, as already understood, will be done in automatic mode, eliminating the user from doing such actions manually.

Browsers for Opera and Mozilla Firefox

Now consider two more popular browsers. As for Opera, here you need to use the main menu (the "Opera" button in the upper left corner or the Alt + P key combination), in which you need to find the settings line, and then go to the security tab.

In this section there is a command "All cookies and site data ...". After entering the section, cleaning can be done using the full clear button or do it manually, selecting a line in the history, and then clicking the cross icon.

If to speak about Mozilla Firefox, for similar actions the use of the settings menu will be necessary, where in the additional parameters the "Network" section is selected. There is a button for cached web content, which you need to click on. You will see the "Clear now" button. It's about the cache.

Again, in the privacy section, you can set automatic cleanup when you exit. In this case, you can tick both the cache and cookies in the checkboxes. The cleaning will be done automatically, and the browser will remember the selected action and will use it permanently.

Using optimizer programs

A convenient and fast way to clean up history, cache and cookies files can be called special applications for system optimization (CCleaner, Advanced System Care, AVZ PC Tune Up, Glary Utilities, etc.).

As a rule, in all programs of this type there is a special button for optimizing the system in one click. At the same time, during the optimization process, the history of the browser installed in the system by default is cleared.

In the extreme case, if these parameters are not activated, you can turn them on using the basic settings of the application. As you can see, everything is simple.

The result

In general, if you sum up a logical result, then the question of how to clean the cache and cookies in the browser, as already understood, is solved quite simply. However, the nuance is only that in some programs, while you find the appropriate settings, as they say, you can break your head. Nevertheless, they are everywhere. The main thing is to know where to look and what parameters to use.

However, today you can find a lot of automatic programs-optimizers, which along with the regulation of the system produce and clean up the data in the form of a cache or cookie files. When running applications of this type "in one click", you just need to activate the corresponding function or check (tick) the required row or parameter.

Thus, it is possible to ensure not only the increased efficiency of the system, but also to preserve its own privacy, which many are often simply ignored.