Advanced caching Technique in ASP. NET Core

Advanced Caching Techniques in ASP.NET Core

Optimize your application performance with advanced caching strategies, implementation techniques, and best practices in ASP.NET Core.

Introduction

Caching is a powerful mechanism to improve the performance and scalability of web applications. In ASP.NET Core, caching reduces the load on back-end resources by storing frequently accessed data closer to the client or in-memory.

In this blog post, we will explore advanced caching techniques in ASP.NET Core, including MemoryCache, Distributed Cache with Redis, Output Caching, and strategies to implement efficient caching for high-performance applications.

What is Caching?

Caching is the process of storing frequently accessed data in a temporary storage location to improve performance and reduce latency. By serving cached data, applications can minimize database queries, API calls, and computational overhead.

Types of Caching:

• In-Memory Caching: Stores data in the application memory.
• Distributed Caching: Stores data in external storage like Redis or SQL Server, shared across multiple instances.
• Output Caching: Caches the output of a controller or action method.

The following diagram illustrates Advance Caching Techniques in ASP.NET core:

Benefits of Caching

• Improved Performance: Reduces response time for end-users.
• Reduced Load: Minimizes database queries and API calls.
• Scalability: Enhances the ability to handle more concurrent requests.
• Cost Efficiency: Decreases resource utilization on cloud-hosted applications.

Caching in ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core provides built-in support for caching through the IMemoryCache and IDistributedCache interfaces. Let's dive into each type of caching and how to implement them.

1. In-Memory Caching

In-Memory Caching is used to store data in the application's memory. It is suitable for single-instance applications where the cached data does not need to be shared across multiple servers.

Implementation

Follow these steps to use MemoryCache in your application:

services.AddMemoryCache();
            

Use it in a controller or service:

public class ProductService
{
    private readonly IMemoryCache _memoryCache;

    public ProductService(IMemoryCache memoryCache)
    {
        _memoryCache = memoryCache;
    }

    public List<Product> GetProducts()
    {
        if (!_memoryCache.TryGetValue("Products", out List<Product> products))
        {
            products = FetchProductsFromDatabase();
            var cacheOptions = new MemoryCacheEntryOptions
            {
                AbsoluteExpirationRelativeToNow = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(10),
                SlidingExpiration = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(2)
            };
            _memoryCache.Set("Products", products, cacheOptions);
        }
        return products;
    }
}
            

2. Distributed Caching

Distributed Caching stores data in an external cache system, such as Redis, SQL Server, or NCache. It allows multiple application instances to share cached data.

Using Redis for Distributed Caching

Install the Redis NuGet package:

dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.StackExchangeRedis
            

Configure Redis in Program.cs:

builder.Services.AddStackExchangeRedisCache(options =>
{
    options.Configuration = "localhost:6379";
    options.InstanceName = "MyApp_";
});
            

Use it in a service:

public class DistributedCacheService
{
    private readonly IDistributedCache _distributedCache;

    public DistributedCacheService(IDistributedCache distributedCache)
    {
        _distributedCache = distributedCache;
    }

    public async Task<string> GetOrSetCachedDataAsync(string key, Func<Task<string>> fetchData)
    {
        var cachedData = await _distributedCache.GetStringAsync(key);
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(cachedData))
        {
            cachedData = await fetchData();
            await _distributedCache.SetStringAsync(key, cachedData, new DistributedCacheEntryOptions
            {
                AbsoluteExpirationRelativeToNow = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5)
            });
        }
        return cachedData;
    }
}
            

3. Output Caching

Output Caching stores the output of an action method or a page. This reduces the need for the server to process the same request repeatedly.

Implementation

Enable Output Caching by adding middleware in Program.cs:

builder.Services.AddOutputCache();
app.UseOutputCache();
            

Use it in a controller:

[OutputCache(Duration = 60)]
[HttpGet]
public IActionResult GetProducts()
{
    var products = FetchProductsFromDatabase();
    return Ok(products);
}
            

4. Caching Strategies

Implement the following strategies for efficient caching:

• Cache-aside: Data is loaded into the cache when requested.
• Write-through: Data is written to the cache and database simultaneously.
• Read-through: The cache fetches data from the underlying source automatically.
• Eviction Policies: Remove stale data using LRU (Least Recently Used) or TTL (Time to Live).

Best Practices for Caching

• Use cache keys consistently to avoid collisions.
• Keep the cache size manageable to prevent memory issues.
• Secure cached data, especially when using distributed caches.
• Test cache performance and eviction policies regularly.

Conclusion

Caching is an essential part of building high-performance applications. By leveraging techniques like MemoryCache, Distributed Cache with Redis, and Output Caching, you can significantly enhance your application's responsiveness and scalability.

Experiment with caching strategies and best practices to find the perfect balance for your application. With ASP.NET Core's robust caching support, you can confidently deliver exceptional performance to your users.

© 2025 Sandeep Mhaske | Advanced Caching Techniques in ASP.NET Core