| Cache Storage Location | Tools |
|---|---|
| In-Memory | Memcached, Redis, Ehcache, Hazelcast, Infinispan, Amazon ElastiCache, Google Cloud Memorystore, Azure Redis Cache |
| Disk-Based | Memcached (with persistent storage enabled), Redis (with persistence enabled), Ehcache (with disk store), Fastly, Cloudflare, Akamai, Varnish |
| SSD-Based | Redis (optimized for SSD), SSD-backed caching solutions from cloud providers |
| Hybrid (In-Memory and Disk) | Most in-memory caching tools offer hybrid options |
| Content Delivery Network (CDN) | Fastly, Cloudflare, Akamai, AWS CloudFront, Azure CDN, Google Cloud CDN |
External caching is a crucial technique to enhance web application performance by storing frequently accessed data in a dedicated cache server. Here are some of the most widely used external caching tools:
In-Memory Caching
- Memcached: A popular open-source, high-performance distributed memory object caching system.
- Redis: An open-source, in-memory data structure store, used as a database, cache, and message broker.
Distributed Caching
- Ehcache: A powerful open-source caching framework for Java-based applications.
- Hazelcast: An open-source distributed in-memory data grid platform providing caching, map, queue, and other data structures.
- Infinispan: Another open-source distributed in-memory data grid platform offering caching, data indexing, and querying capabilities.
Cloud-Based Caching
- Amazon ElastiCache: A managed in-memory data store service offering Memcached and Redis compatibility.
- Google Cloud Memorystore: A fully managed in-memory data store service for Redis.
- Azure Redis Cache: A fully managed, in-memory data cache service based on Redis.
Considerations for Choosing a Caching Tool
When selecting a caching tool, consider the following factors:
- Data types: The type of data you need to cache (strings, objects, complex structures).
- Data size: The amount of data you need to store in the cache.
- Performance requirements: The expected read and write throughput and latency.
- Scalability: The ability to handle increasing traffic and data volume.
- Cost: The pricing model and overall cost of ownership.
- Features: Additional features like data expiration, eviction policies, and distributed caching capabilities.
Note: The best caching tool for your application depends on your specific requirements and constraints. It’s essential to evaluate different options and benchmark their performance in your environment before making a decision.