# Cache

## Summary

**Cache** provides tools and information for managing the application's internal search cache. When the cache is enabled, it stores frequently accessed search results and data to improve search performance and reduce the load on the system.

You can access the current cache status under **More settings** → **System information** → **Cache** tab.

![](/files/YTGhSqd1qnNIxO4pZeC6)

![](/files/FBBhaWTDVU8CKRR82Art)

## Cache Settings

**Cache settings** area displays configuration options related to the search cache:

* Cache root directory - shows the file system path where the cache data is stored. This path indicates the physical location on the server where the cached information resides.
* Ignore filter order - enabling or disabling this option can affect how search queries involving filters are cached.

> Changing settings on this page may affect the operational capability of search environment

## Cache Monitor

Cache monitor provides real-time statistics about the performance and contents of the search cache. This information is presented in a grid:

* Channel - specifies the channel for which the cache data is being monitored.
* Entries - shows the current number of items or entries stored within the cache for that channel.
* Cache hit percentage - displays the percentage of times a search request was successfully served directly from the cache.

## Clearing the Cache

If the cache is not emptied during the day by importing, manually initiating the emptying of the cache or setting the time-to-live of the individual cache entries accordingly, it will be automatically emptied by FactFinder between midnight and 6 a.m.

### Clearing the Cache in the Cache Monitor Grid

Clicking **Clear cache** button in the Cache monitor grid will clear the current contents of the search cache for the specified channel.

This action can be useful after data updates or configuration changes to ensure fresh data is loaded into the cache, or for troubleshooting cache-related issues.

**Clearing the cache** may temporarily impact search performance until the cache is repopulated.

### Clearing the Cache in the Toolbar

Some configuration changes require you to clear the cache manually to take effect immediately. FactFinder signals this with a yellow sign with arrows and an exclamation mark.

![](/files/4WjreqbYffxLz1GQsody)

Clicking it opens a dialog that explains the cache needs to be cleared and lets you empty it and/or perform an import.

![](/files/DMSR9HpZ9qVBvmnMqeZl)

![](/files/nXj6xBwa71QczPAYznZG)

![](/files/flHvIj3x5XXhyOfKJE7i)

## Cache Entry Lifetime Strategies

Regardless of emptying the entire cache, each cache entry has its own lifetime until it is deleted. There are two strategies for managing the lifetime:

* **time-to-live**\
  This is the default strategy. Each entry has a fixed lifetime (default= 15 minutes) until it is deleted again.
* **time-to-idle**\
  With this strategy, the lifetime of a cache entry is renewed with each call. Only when an entry has not been called for the set duration is it deleted.

**The use of delta updates has no effect on the lifetime of existing cache entries.**\
If a time-to-live strategy of 3 minutes is used, all requests would return the new information no later than 3 minutes after the delta update is sent.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.fact-finder.com/docs/system-maintenance-and-security/system-information/cache.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.