You are here:About>Computing & Technology>Web Design / HTML> Web Server Management> Caching> Why Won't My Page Display As I Wrote It?
About.comWeb Design / HTML
Why Won't My Page Display As I Wrote It?
Part 1: What is a Web Browser Cache?
 More of this Feature
• Part 1: What is a Cache
• Part 2: Load From the Server
 
 Related Resources
• Clear IE Cache
• Clear NS Cache
• Web Caching Links
 
 From Other Guides
• Mac Support: Clearing Your Mac Cache
• Mac Support: Proxy/Cache Servers  
 Stay Up-to-Date
  with Web Design
  Email:
  

By Jennifer Kyrnin

One of the most frustrating things to happen when creating a Web page is when you can't seem to get it to load on your Web site. You find a typo, fix it and reupload, then when you view the page it's still there. Or perhaps, you do a major change to the site and you can't seem to see it when you upload.

The most common reason for this is that the page is in your Web browser cache. The browser cache is a tool of all Web browsers to help pages load more quickly. The first time you load a Web page, it is loaded straight from the Web server. Then, the browser saves a copy of the page and all the images in a file on your machine. The next time you go to that page, your browser opens the page from your hard drive rather than the server.

The browser typically checks the server once per session. What this means is that the first time you view your Web page during a session it will be saved on your computer. So, if you then find a typo and fix it the upload may not display correctly.

Load Your Page from the Server
In order to force your browser to load a Web page from the server rather than the cache, you should hold down the shift key (option on a Mac) while you click on the "Refresh" button.

Next page > Forcing Your Pages to Always Load from the Server > Page 1, 2

Previous Features

From Jennifer Kyrnin,
Your Guide to Web Design / HTML.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Newsletters & RSSEmail to a friendSubmit to Digg
 All Topics | Email Article | | |
Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | HelpOur Story | Be a Guide
User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.