What is a Cached Page?
A cached page is a copy of a webpage that is stored at a location other than where the original webpage is hosted. The location where the page is stored is called a cache.
Search engines, web browsers, and content delivery networks can cache pages. However, the intent and storage location of the cached page differs depending on the platform. We will address them briefly below.
Browsers: Browsers save the cached page on your device. When you revisit the page, your browser shows you the copy it saved to its cache instead of fetching it from the host server. That way, the browser saves resources and reduces the time it takes to deliver content to you.
Search Engines: Search engines save the cached page to their servers. When the original webpage is unavailable, say, because the site’s server is down, the search engine can show you the cached version of the page until the site returns online.
Content Delivery Networks: Content delivery networks save the cached pages on servers closest to you. This allows them to reduce server load, improve the site’s performance, and deliver content to you faster.