ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Database cache

Hey kiddo, do you know what a database is? It's like a big storage room where we keep lots of information like a library. Now, imagine you want to find a specific book in the library. You would start by going to the shelf where that book is supposed to be, right? But if there are too many books on that shelf, it would take you a long time to find the book you need.

That's where a cache comes in. A "cache" is like having a mini-library next to you, with only a few books that you need to use often. So, you don't have to go all the way to the big library every time you need a book - you can just grab it from your mini-library.

Similarly, a database cache is like a mini-storage room where the most frequently used information from a database - like the most popular books - is stored. This way, when someone needs to use that information, it can be accessed quickly and easily without having to scan through the entire database every time. This makes using the database much faster and more efficient, just like having a mini-library next to you.

But, like any storage system, the database cache needs to be updated regularly to keep up with changes in the database. Otherwise, it might not have all the current information you need. So, just like we have to periodically update our mini-library to keep it accurate and useful, a database cache needs to be updated too.