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Why is clearing cache important?

sfbloodbrother

Extreme Android User
Jul 30, 2012
6,109
733
Chicago IL
So, I was having problems with my note. Major problems, so I went to Samsung.com and asked them. They told me to clear my cache. Now I'm not 100 percent if this solved my issue, I guess we will find out later when I need to use S Note.
But why is it that clearing cache is important. First of all, what the heck is cache anyway? Then why is it important?
I just noticed this thread would be better fit in the android lounge.
 
One reason the browser uses cacheing is so that - in theory - when you return to a page, it doesn't need to download everything on that page again, thus allowing the browser to render the page faster. Often the page coding instructs the browser to reload every time, which negates this, but that's the theory :rolleyes:

There is however, another reason beyond those discussed above why you should clear your browser cache - particularly if you've been on restricted sites like internet banking - which is that it is possible to mine the cache - i.e. get files or information from what is held in the cache even after you have left the website.

The cache can contain information that would be helpful to criminals trying to steal your ID or access, say your bank account - it might even briefly contain a token that a criminal could use to directly access your bank account.

Obviously, this assumes that the criminal either has remote access to your phone or computer or .. that they stole it.
 
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Also on occasion data in caches can become corrupted preventing the app/program from operating correctly especially for web pages and ones that use cookies.

HTH :)

+1

It is also likely to happen after an app has been updated, changes in the app can often cause it to get wonky trying to work with it's "old" cache data.

If an app gets updated and starts getting weird, clear it's cache and 99 percent of the time the issue goes away.
 
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+1

It is also likely to happen after an app has been updated, changes in the app can often cause it to get wonky trying to work with it's "old" cache data.

If an app gets updated and starts getting weird, clear it's cache and 99 percent of the time the issue goes away.

P.s, the fact that we sometimes have to use these apps (i think?) Is because of bad app coding and not a fault in android?
Someone help me if im off track here :beer:
 
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Android and other OSes use cache in essentially the same way, as a way of holding data that might be needed again in a short time. generally I do not believe there is any policy you can sent to periodically clear cache, EXCEPT for browsers, where you should be able to tell the browser to clear chache when you close the browser. Other Apps don't have this option (maybe they should), so periodically clearing caches manually is the only option.
 
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