Cache Performance & Strategies

Learn how to dramatically improve application performance using caching strategies

Understanding Cache Performance

Caching is one of the most effective ways to improve application performance. By storing frequently accessed data in memory or fast storage, you can dramatically reduce database queries and response times.

Key Concepts

  • Cache Drivers: database, file, redis, memcached
  • Cache Operations: remember(), get(), put(), forget(), flush()
  • Cache Tags: Group related cache items for easy invalidation
  • Cache TTL (Time To Live): Control how long data stays cached

Real-World Performance Impact

  • No Cache: 50-150ms (every request hits database)
  • Database Cache: 5-15ms (reads from cache table)
  • Redis Cache: 1-5ms (in-memory, fastest)

When to Use Each Strategy

No Cache

  • • Real-time data
  • • Frequently changing content
  • • Small datasets
  • • Low traffic

Database Cache

  • • Redis not available
  • • Moderate traffic
  • • 5-15ms acceptable
  • • Shared hosting

Redis Cache

  • • High traffic apps
  • • Sub-5ms needed
  • • Production environments
  • • Scalable architecture

Interactive Speed Test Demo

No Cache

Direct database queries every time. Slowest but always fresh data.

Database Cache

Cache in database table. 10x faster. Pre-serialized data.

Redis Cache

In-memory data store. 50x faster. Requires Redis server.

Code Examples

No Cache - Direct Query PHP 
// Every request hits the database
$products = Product::with('category')
    ->where('is_active', true)
    ->orderBy('price', 'desc')
    ->limit(100)
    ->get();

// Result: 50-150ms, 100+ queries

💡 Simple but slowest. Every request executes all database queries.

Database Cache - Cache::remember()
✓ Best Practice PHP 
// Cache for 1 hour (3600 seconds)
$products = Cache::store('database')->remember('products_list', 3600, function () {
    return Product::with('category')
        ->where('is_active', true)
        ->orderBy('price', 'desc')
        ->limit(100)
        ->get();
});

// First request: 50-150ms, 100+ queries
// Cached requests: 5-15ms, 1 query

💡 Great balance! Stores serialized data in database 'cache' table. 10x faster after first request.

Redis Cache - In-Memory Storage
✓ Best Practice PHP 
// Cache in Redis for 1 hour
$products = Cache::store('redis')->remember('products_list', 3600, function () {
    return Product::with('category')
        ->where('is_active', true)
        ->orderBy('price', 'desc')
        ->limit(100)
        ->get();
});

// First request: 50-150ms, 100+ queries
// Cached requests: 1-5ms, 0 queries

💡 Fastest option! Requires Redis server but provides 50x performance improvement.

Cache Invalidation PHP 
// Clear specific cache key
Cache::forget('products_list');

// Clear all cache
Cache::flush();

// Check if cache exists
if (Cache::has('products_list')) {
    // Cache exists
}

// Get cache or default value
$products = Cache::get('products_list', []);

💡 Always clear cache when underlying data changes to avoid stale data.

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