How can you best explain server-side caching with web pages?

Server-side caching allows for web files and data to be stored on the origin server so that the following user does not have to request those resources from the web server again. First, the server sends the page to the user at the user’s first request for a web page on the site. After sending the page, the server saves a copy of the page for future requests by other users.

Caching is a common method of reducing the load on web servers. Server-side caching typically involves placing a proxy in front of web servers. This proxy retains copies of responses from the web servers it sits in front of, effectively reducing their load and latency. Client-side caching can include browser-based caching, which retains a cached version of previously visited web content.

Caching takes a snapshot of a web page and stores it on the host server so that when someone tries to load that same web page in the future, the cached version can be loaded rather than sending it through the process of compiling a new page.

For websites with static content, server-side processing is best because it allows the server to handle requests without having it recreate the entire content per user request. This helps limit the cost of servers and what they incur while retrieving data from a database and sending it to the browser.