Web browsers store website elements in a cache for faster browsing, but this can cause problems when changes are made. A full refresh or cache flush can fix this. Clearing the cache should be done periodically and is helpful for troubleshooting.
If you visit a website frequently, your web browser stores web page elements in a cache so they don’t have to be downloaded again each time you visit, making your browsing faster. These elements could include photographs, previously viewed pages or stylesheets. In some cases, when the website changes, you may not be able to see the changes because you are actually viewing the cache. There are two ways to fix this: a full refresh, which ignores the cache and loads the actual page as stored on the server, and flushes the cache, which you should do periodically anyway.
To refresh a website normally, press the “Refresh” button or the F5 key or press the command key for your operating system, such as the Apple key or the Ctrl key and the letter R. For the full refresh, the command or Ctrl key is held down while clicking the refresh button or pressing F5. Alternatively, the user can hold down the Shift key, the Command/Control key, and the letter R. A forced refresh will ignore all cached files and display the web page as it currently appears on the server.
A full refresh can be useful to clear the forms and ensure that you are viewing the web page as it currently appears. Usually, even if your web browser has a cached version of a web page, it will check with the server for any changes. Sometimes glitches muddle this communication, however, leaving the viewer with a website that looks confusing. This is especially common when changes are made to style sheets, which sometimes cause a page to render strangely.
If you are viewing a web page that looks strange or has problems, it may need a full refresh. This is common with websites that are constantly updated, such as email and news sites. Occasionally, rapid updates confuse the browser and it reverts to a cached version of the page. If a site looks funny to you, performing a full refresh can help fix the problem. Hard refresh is also very useful for web designers who want to make sure they are viewing the most recent version of their work.
In your web browser’s options menu, there is usually a tab to manage cache. You can set the size of the cache and also empty it. Clearing the cache will remove any previous saved versions of websites you visit, which means that the entire page will need to be freshly downloaded when you visit. Clearing the cache takes longer than performing a full refresh and should only be done periodically, but it can be helpful if you’re having difficulties with your browser.
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