How to clear your computer's cache (browsers)

Very often on the Internet you can meet the question: "How to clear the computer's cache?". Such a formulation immediately gives out a novice user who somewhere heard that in this way it is possible to improve the computer performance, but does not quite understand what is being discussed at all. Well, even the most advanced specialist once started from scratch and with computer technology was on "You". The expression "clear the computer's cache" is incorrect, if only because the CPU actually has a cache memory (two- and three-level), but the user can not interfere with her work, and there is no need. Speaking of clearing the cache, most often imply making certain adjustments to the functioning of the used web browsers. We'll talk about them and figure out how to clear the computer's cache .

When browsing any Internet page in the browser, it automatically saves a part of the information received on the hard disk in a special directory - this is its cache. Why do we need such a mechanism? All is explained quite simply: reopening the page, some information is not downloaded from the network, but is taken from the cache. This allows not only to save traffic, but also significantly increases the speed of work.

What exactly is stored in the cache directory? It depends on the algorithm of the browser, but in most cases it's wallpaper, backgrounds (themes and styles), flash movies that are opened, etc. By the way, this allows you to retrieve the desired movie from the cache, the save function which is not available or blocked.

It would seem that there are some advantages. But, as always, it can not do without a "spoonful of tar." Imagine a situation that, by the way, occurs quite often: when the page was reopened, the cache mechanism triggered and substituted some previously loaded items. But during the time between these two discoveries of the resource, the page managed to update (a new style), and the browser does not know about it. Obviously, the user simply does not see any changes until all the elements of the page are reloaded from the server. One solution is to figure out how to clear the computer's cache memory. After performing this operation, the browser will read the information about the visited resources again. For example, if the habitual page in the social network has ceased to display correctly, then knowing how to clear the computer's cache will not be superfluous, because it can help restore the PC's performance.

You can clear the cache in popular Google Chrome as follows: by clicking on the wrench symbol in the upper right corner, go to "Tools" and select "Clear browsing data".

It's equally easy to understand how to clear the computer's cache with respect to the Internet Explorer integrated into Windows. Open the "Tools" menu in the browser and follow the "Internet Options". Here you can delete your browsing history. By the way, the next button "Options" allows you to more flexibly configure the operation of the caching subsystem.

In Firefox, you need to follow the path of the "Tools" menu and select "Erase Recent History". Clicking on "Details" displays the list of saved items: select "Cache" and "Clear".

In the Opera browser, clearing cache entries is also available to each user. The quickest way to get to the menu is by pressing the combination of Ctrl + F12. Here you need to select the "Advanced" tab and proceed to "History". There are two buttons "Clear" - for the typed addresses and for the cache. Choose and press.

By the way, in the Opera, as in many other browsers, an improved caching mechanism is implemented. For example, you can not worry about the infinite growth of a folder of saved items, since its size can always be limited. A convenient function to clear all stored data when exiting the browser is also implemented everywhere. In fact, it allows you to hide the traces of your work on the network. And the ability to automatically update saved page elements allows you to resort to cleaning up the cache much less often.

A no less effective way to clear the cache is to use the CCleaner program. Following the "Cleaning - Applications" path, we specify what it is necessary to delete in browsers and perform the specified operation.