Caching in ASP.NET C# - Memory Caching is AMAZING

Summary

In this video, Yannick from Tutorial CU explores in-memory caching in ASP.NET Core, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing application performance. He showcases a product list of 2,000 items, highlighting how caching reduces database load times significantly, from 189 milliseconds to just 13 milliseconds. The tutorial covers essential concepts like dependency injection, cache key creation, and configuration options such as sliding and absolute expiration. Additionally, it addresses potential race conditions and emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date cache data. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe for more insights and check out the C# Progress Academy for comprehensive learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 In-memory caching significantly improves data retrieval times in ASP.NET Core applications.
• 🚀 Initial data load from the database can take time, but caching reduces this load for subsequent requests.
• 💡 Using caching can enhance user experience by providing faster access to frequently requested data.
• 🔑 Each cached item requires a unique cache key, similar to a dictionary key, to identify the stored data.
• 🛠️ ASP.NET Core provides `IMemoryCache` out of the box, requiring no additional packages for implementation.
• ⏳ Sliding expiration allows cached data to remain valid as long as it is accessed within a specific timeframe.
• 📅 Absolute expiration clears cached items after a fixed period, regardless of access.
• ⚠️ Race conditions can occur when multiple users access the cache simultaneously, requiring careful management.
• 🔄 It's crucial to cache the actual data (like lists) rather than database queries to avoid exceptions.
• 🎓 The video encourages developers to subscribe for more content and check out additional resources for learning ASP.NET Core.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video?

The video focuses on in-memory caching in ASP.NET Core, explaining its importance for improving application performance.

Why is caching important for user experience?

Caching helps reduce load times by storing frequently accessed data in memory, which allows for faster data retrieval on subsequent requests.

What kind of application is used as an example in the video?

A simple MVC application is used, demonstrating how to handle a large list of products (2,000 items) efficiently using in-memory caching.

How does the caching mechanism work in ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core uses the `IMemoryCache` interface, which allows developers to store and retrieve data in the server's memory. When data is requested, it checks the cache first and retrieves the data from the database only if it's not cached.

What is the difference between sliding expiration and absolute expiration?

Sliding expiration resets the cache duration each time the data is accessed, while absolute expiration clears the cache after a set time regardless of access.

What happens when the cache is cleared?

When the cache is cleared, the application retrieves the data from the database, which takes longer than retrieving it from the cache.

How does the `TryGetValue` method function in caching?

The `TryGetValue` method attempts to retrieve a value from the cache using a specified cache key, indicating whether the data was found.

What should developers avoid storing in the cache?

Developers should avoid storing database queries in the cache, as they may lead to exceptions due to the state of the database context. Instead, they should cache collections of data.

What is a potential issue with concurrent users accessing the cache?

A race condition may occur when multiple users try to access and populate the cache simultaneously, leading to inconsistencies. Implementing thread safety with locks can mitigate this risk.

What resources does Yannick recommend for further learning?

Yannick encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel for more .NET-related videos and check out the C# Progress Academy for a comprehensive online course on becoming a full-stack C# web developer.