In this artcile we will discuss MemoryCaching and LazyCaching in .Net Core. Memory caching and lazy caching are two commonly used caching techniques in .NET Core. While they both have the same objective of improving performance by storing frequently accessed data in memory, there are significant differences between the two that developers should be aware of.MemoryCache and LazyCache are both caching libraries available in .NET Core that can help improve application performance by reducing the time it takes to retrieve data from sources like databases or APIs.
While MemoryCache is a built-in caching library that provides a way to store data in memory for a specified amount of time. It is designed to be fast and efficient, and it supports various cache eviction policies, such as least recently used (LRU) and sliding expiration. MemoryCache is suitable for scenarios where the data is relatively small and can fit in memory. Whereas LazyCache, on the other hand, is a third-party caching library that provides a more flexible and feature-rich caching solution. It offers a wide range of features, including distributed caching, background cache refreshing, and support for various cache backends like Redis and Memcached. Unlike MemoryCache, LazyCache also supports caching of large objects, with options for compression and serialization.
MemoryCache:
MemoryCache is a built-in caching library in .Net Core that provides an in-memory cache implementation. It is part of the System.Runtime.Caching namespace and is available in all .Net Core projects. MemoryCache provides a simple and efficient way to cache data in memory, making it available to all parts of the application. In a key-value storage like MemoryCache, values can be retrieved using keys. When you add something to MemoryCache, you give it a key and a value, and the cache uses the key as the item's identifier to store the value in memory. The value can then be retrieved by giving the cache the key. It is a caching technique that may be used to store frequently requested data in memory so that it can be quickly retrieved without having to be recreated each time it is needed. It is totally implemented in memory.
Example usage of MemoryCache:
Here's an example of how to use MemoryCache in .NET Core:
using Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory;
// create a new instance of MemoryCache
var cache = new MemoryCache(new MemoryCacheOptions());
// add an item to the cache
cache.Set("myKey", "myValue");
// get an item from the cache
var value = cache.Get("myKey");
// remove an item from the cache
cache.Remove("myKey");
In this example, we create a new instance of MemoryCache and add an item to the cache with the key "myKey" and the value "myValue". We then retrieve the value from the cache using the key "myKey". Finally, we remove the item from the cache using the Remove method.
Advantages of MemoryCache:
Improved performance: MemoryCache stores data in memory, which allows for faster access to frequently used data, leading to improved application performance.
Scalability: MemoryCache is designed to work with multiple threads and processes, making it scalable for large applications.
Flexibility: MemoryCache can be customized to suit the specific needs of your application, including the expiration policies and cache eviction strategies.
Ease of use: MemoryCache is easy to use and requires minimal code to implement.
LazyCache:
LazyCache is a third-party caching library that offers.NET Core applications a simple and lightweight caching solution. It offers a variety of caching solutions, including in-memory caching, distributed caching, and hybrid caching, and is made to be easy to use. The LazyCache library adds extra capabilities like automatic expiration, sliding expiration, and cache dependencies on top of the.NET Core MemoryCache. All object types, including complex objects and collections, are also supported for caching. Lazy loading is one of LazyCache's primary characteristics. This means that if an item is requested from the cache and isn't already there, it won't be loaded into the cache. By reducing pointless database requests or expensive computations, it can assist to lighten the burden on your application and enhance speed.
Example usage of Lazycache:
Here is an example of how to use LazyCache in .Net Core:
using Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory;
using LazyCache;
// Create a new instance of CachingService
CachingService cache = new CachingService();
// Add an item to the cache
cache.Add("key", () => "value");
// Retrieve an item from the cache
string value = cache.Get("key");
// Remove an item from the cache
cache.Remove("key");
In the example above, we create a new instance of CachingService and add an item to the cache using the Add method. We then retrieve the item from the cache using the Get method and remove it using the Remove method.
Advantages of LazyCache:
Automatic caching: LazyCache automatically caches data on first access, reducing the need for explicit caching in your code.
Simplified code: LazyCache simplifies code by handling the caching logic for you, freeing up time to focus on other aspects of your application.
Support for multiple cache providers: LazyCache supports a variety of cache providers, including MemoryCache, Redis, and SQL Server, giving you the flexibility to choose the best caching option for your application.
Reduced network latency: LazyCache can be used to cache data from remote sources, reducing the network latency associated with retrieving data from external systems.
Conclusion:
Overall, MemoryCache and LazyCache are effective techniques for enhancing application performance by lowering the number of costly actions required to repeatedly access the same data. While MemoryCache is already included in.NET Core and offers a straightforward key-value pair store, LazyCache is a separate library that builds on MemoryCache to offer further capabilities and a more approachable API.
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