Caching Query Results
If the same expensive question is asked of your database over and over, answering it fresh every time is wasteful. Caching stores the answer for a short while so repeated requests are served instantly.
Used well, caching dramatically improves speed and reduces database load; used carelessly, it can show people stale information.
What Gets Cached
Good candidates are results that are read often but change rarely — a homepage product list, a navigation menu, or a report that updates hourly. We keep these in a fast store such as Redis so they need not be recalculated each time.
Keeping the Cache Honest
- Expiry: entries auto-clear after a set time.
- Invalidation: we clear the cache when the underlying data changes.
- Scope: we avoid caching anything personal or sensitive unless carefully keyed per user.
The Balance
Every cache is a deliberate trade between freshness and speed. We pick expiry times that match how tolerant each piece of content is to being a little out of date.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.