# Why Cache & Private Browsing are Important in the Process of Reviewing Your Website

- Link: https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/why-cache-private-browsing-are-important-in-the-process-of-reviewing-your-website/
- Published: 2022-04-25T13:07:17+00:00
- Author: neilharner

## **What is a Cache and Why is it Important in the Process of Reviewing Your Website**

A cache is something you have probably been prompted to clear before when troubleshooting
something on your computer or cleaning up your browser history. Although, you might
be wondering why refreshing your cache is an important part of the process when 
reviewing your website. Basically, a cache collects and stores temporary data to
help websites, browsers and apps load faster. A cache helps devices run faster and
smoother by being able to quickly retrieve that collected data, almost like a memory
card. So, instead of a website or app redownloading that data every time, a cache
makes it readily available locally. The reason you want to make sure you refresh
your cache before reviewing your website is because a cache can prevent it from 
loading the latest version of your site and other data. When you refresh your cache,
the site is then forced to download anything new.

**How to Clear Cache on Google Chrome (Desktop)**

 1. Open Google Chrome and click on the “more” icon (3 dots) in the top-right hand 
    corner of the browser screen.
 2. In the drop-down menu that appears, hover over “more tools”, then click on “clear
    browsing data”.
 3. In the pop-up, choose a range of time (anywhere from the last hour to all time).
 4. Be sure to also check off the “cookies and other site data” and “cached images 
    and files” boxes.
 5. Click “clear data”.

![](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-
12.37.51-PM.png)

**How to Clear Cache on Google Chrome (Mobile)**

 1. Open up the Google Chrome app and tap on the “more” icon (3 dots) in the bottom-
    right hand corner of the browser screen for Apple devices and at the top-right 
    hand corner of the browser screen for Android devices.
 2.  Tap on “history”, then “clear browsing data”.
 3. Choose a range of time (anywhere from the last hour to all time).
 4. Be sure to also check off the “cookies and other site data” and “cached images 
    and files” boxes.
 5. Tap “clear browsing data” on Apple devices and “clear data” on Android devices.

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/unnamed.
png?w=473)

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4875.
jpg?w=473)

**How to Clear Cache on Safari (Desktop)**

 1. Open Safari and click on the “Safari” tab located in the top bar of your screen
    on the left. Then click on “preferences” in the drop-down menu.
 2. Click on the “advanced” tab.
 3. At the bottom of the “advanced” tab, check off the “show develop menu in menu bar”
    and then close the preferences menu.
 4. Click on the “develop” tab at the top of your screen.
 5. In the drop-down menu, click “empty caches”.

![](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-
12.51.09-PM.png)

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-
Shot-2022-04-25-at-12.51.32-PM.png?w=640)

![](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-
12.51.50-PM.jpg)

**How to Clear Cache on Safari (Mobile)**

 1. Open the Settings app on your mobile device.
 2. Tap on “Safari”.
 3. Tap on “clear history and website data”.
 4. On the pop-up that comes up, choose “clear history and data”.

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4878.
jpg?w=473)

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4879.
jpg?w=473)

![cache instruction](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4880.
jpg?w=473)

**How to Clear Cache on Firefox Manually **

 1. Open Firefox on your Mac or PC
 2. In the upper right hand corner of your browser, click on the menu icon (3 stacked
    horizontal lines).
 3. Click on “settings”.
 4. On the left hand site, click on the “privacy & security” tab.
 5. Scroll down until you find the “cookies and site data” section.
 6. Click “clear data”.
 7. Check off the box next to “cached web content”.
 8. Then click the “clear” button to clear your cache manually.

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-
Shot-2022-04-25-at-12.57.31-PM.png?w=490)

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-
Shot-2022-04-25-at-12.58.26-PM.png?w=640)

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-
Shot-2022-04-25-at-12.58.48-PM.png?w=640)

**How to Clear Cache on Firefox Automatically **

 1.  Open Firefox on your Mac or PC
 2.  In the upper right hand corner of your browser, click on the menu icon (3 stacked
     horizontal lines).
 3.  Click on “settings”.
 4.  On the left hand site, click on the “privacy & security” tab.
 5.  Scroll down until you find the “history” section.
 6.  Next to “Firefox will”, click on the dropdown menu and change the default option
     of “remember history” to “use custom settings for history”.
 7.  Under the list of options that appear, check the box next to “clear history when
     Firefox closes”.
 8.  Next to this option, click on the “settings…” button.
 9.  Check off the box next to “cache”.
 10. Then, to exit and save your settings, click the “ok” button.

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-
Shot-2022-04-25-at-12.57.31-PM.png?w=490)

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-
Shot-2022-04-25-at-1.00.51-PM.png?w=640)

![cache instructions](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-
Shot-2022-04-25-at-1.01.03-PM.png?w=640)

## **What is Private Browsing and Why is it Important in the Process of Reviewing Your Website**

All web browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox give you the option
to use a privacy mode. This private browser option can help keep your online activity
hidden while you are searching the web. None of your activity will be stored after
you close a private browser, so anyone who might use your computer later will not
be able to see what websites you visited or your history. Although, using a private
browser may keep you anonymous to anyone else using your laptop, plenty of other
people and organizations can still see your online activity, such as your employer,
government agencies or your internet service provider. More sophisticated tools 
are required if you want to have more privacy during your time searching the web.

Using a private browser is important when it comes to the process of reviewing your
website. A private browser does not cache any files or images, so it is essentially
a clean slate that will be able to show any updates on your site without the worry
of old cached content. To utilize private browsing, just follow the steps below 
for your preferred browser.

**How to Open a Private Browser in Google Chrome**

 1. Open Chrome on your computer.
 2. Then, click on the “more” icon (3 dots) in the top-right hand corner of the browser
    screen and click “new incognito window”.

![](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-
1.03.09-PM.png)

**How to Open a Private Browser in Safari**

 1. Open Safari and select “file” from the menu bar at the top of your screen.
 2.  Then, choose “new private window”.

![](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-
1.03.58-PM.png)

**How to Open a Private Browser in Firefox**

 1. Open Firefox and click on the menu icon (3 stacked horizontal lines) in the upper
    right hand corner of your browser.
 2. Then, click on “new private window”.

![](https://ip.ipdev2.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-
1.04.35-PM.png)

## **Conclusion**

Both cache and private browsing are important in the process of reviewing your website.
They both help get rid of any previously stored content, images, files, etc. When
you are reviewing your site make sure you clear your cache first, then view your
website in a private browser, so you can see the most up to date version of your
site.