Comparing Caching Strategies
Side-by-side comparison of the four main caching mechanisms
Overview Comparison
Compare the key characteristics of each caching strategy
| Strategy | Description | Consistency | Write Speed | Read Speed | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read-Through | Cache automatically fetches from database on miss | High | Depends on write strategy | Fast after first access | Low |
| Write-Through | Write to both cache and database simultaneously | High | Slow | Fast | Low |
| Write-Back | Write to cache first, update database later | Medium | Fast | Fast | High |
| Write-Around | Write directly to database, bypass cache | High | Medium | Slow after writes | Medium |
Pros & Cons Summary
Write-Through
Pros
- ✓ Data consistency
- ✓ Simple implementation
Cons
- ✗ Slower writes
- ✗ Higher database load
Write-Back
Pros
- ✓ Fast writes
- ✓ Reduced database load
Cons
- ✗ Risk of data loss
- ✗ Complex implementation
Write-Around
Pros
- ✓ Prevents cache pollution
- ✓ Good for write-once data
Cons
- ✗ Cache misses after writes
- ✗ Higher read latency
Read-Through
Pros
- ✓ Automatic cache population
- ✓ Simple application logic
Cons
- ✗ Initial read latency
- ✗ Potential cache pollution