Unlike your cache, you can access this list to find a website you’ve previously visited. What’s the difference between cache and browser history?īrowser history lists all of the specific web pages you’ve visited using a specific browser. Take the time to occasionally clear your cache for faster internet access and to free up storage space on your device. While the purpose of a cache is to make loading pages faster, over time it usually saves pages that you never even visit. Similar to clearing your cookies, deleting your browser cache improves your speed and performance.

However, once it’s saved to the cache, your subsequent visits will load faster. When you first visit a website, it might take time to load all of the online content, like images or videos. Both cache and cookies store data on your device, but while cookies expire eventually, you must manually clear your cache.Ī cache stores copies of all data that passes through it, like HTML pages and images, and helps display a web page. Cookies save your user preferences and behaviors, and cache saves information about the web pages themselves. Your web cache shares similarities with cookies, but functions differently. You may end up spending time trying to remember your passwords, but you’ll be able to browse new web pages faster. The main reason to clear your cookies is to improve overall internet speed. The security of cookies is less of a concern, as long as you avoid suspicious websites and keep your device updated with antivirus software-such as the built-in security features of Windows 11. This exchange can add time to your browsing experience.Īlthough you may have some privacy concerns about websites having access to your personal information, cookies only store your information for a short amount of time. When you load a website, your browser sends this cookie back to the server to give the site this information. These files often improve your user experience by saving your passwords, remembering your preferences, and providing content relevant to your location. What are cookies?Ĭookies are small files created by the websites you visit to hold information about your online activity.

Find out how to manage your cookies and clear your browser cache for an elevated online experience. However, these functions do come with drawbacks. As the internet evolved, new functions including cookies and cache have made browsing the web or working from home faster and easier.

How to clear cookies on microsoft edge