How do you cache data in ASP.NET Core? What are the options?

Question

ICSM · Answer

In ASP.NET Core, caching improves application performance by temporarily storing frequently accessed data. There are
three primary caching options:
1. In-Memory Caching
Best for:
Small- to medium-sized dataSingle-server scenarios (not shared across instances)
Example:
public class MyService
{
    private readonly IMemoryCache _cache;
    public MyService(IMemoryCache cache)
    {
        _cache = cache;
    }
    public string GetData()
    {
        return _cache.GetOrCreate("myKey", entry =andgt;
        {
            entry.AbsoluteExpirationRelativeToNow = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5);
            return "cached value";
        });
    }
}
Register in Startup.cs (for .NET Core 3.x) or Program.cs (.NET 6+):
builder.Services.AddMemoryCache();
2. Distributed Caching
Used in multi-server or cloud environments.
Options:
SQL ServerRedisNCache
Best for:
Shared data across multiple app instancesSession data in scalable environments
Redis Example:
# Install Redis package
dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.StackExchangeRedis
builder.Services.AddStackExchangeRedisCache(options =andgt;
{
    options.Configuration = "localhost:6379"; // or use Azure Redis Cache endpoint
});
public class MyService
{
    private readonly IDistributedCache _cache;
    public MyService(IDistributedCache cache)
    {
        _cache = cache;
    }
    public async Taskandlt;stringandgt; GetDataAsync()
    {
        var data = await _cache.GetStringAsync("myKey");
        if (data == null)
        {
            data = "cached value";
            await _cache.SetStringAsync("myKey", data, new DistributedCacheEntryOptions
            {
                AbsoluteExpirationRelativeToNow = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5)
            });
        }
        return data;
    }
}
3. Response Caching
Best for:
Caching full HTTP responsesStatic or rarely changing output
Setup:
builder.Services.AddResponseCaching();
app.UseResponseCaching();
Annotate Controller/Action:
[HttpGet]
[ResponseCache(Duration = 60, Location = ResponseCacheLocation.Client)]
public IActionResult Get()
{
    return Ok("cached response");
}
Summary Comparison
Caching Type
Scope
Shared Across Servers?
Use Case
In-Memory Cache
Application
No
Small, fast-access, per-server data
Distributed Cache
External
Yes
Web farms, cloud-scale apps
Response Cache
HTTP Layer
Depends on setup
Caching API/page responses

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How do you cache data in ASP.NET Core? What are the options?

ICSM

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1 Answers

1. In-Memory Caching

Best for:

Example:

Register in `Startup.cs` (for .NET Core 3.x) or `Program.cs` (.NET 6+):

2. Distributed Caching

Options:

Best for:

Redis Example:

3. Response Caching

Best for:

Setup:

Annotate Controller/Action:

Summary Comparison

Liked By

Caching Type	Scope	Shared Across Servers?	Use Case
In-Memory Cache	Application	No	Small, fast-access, per-server data
Distributed Cache	External	Yes	Web farms, cloud-scale apps
Response Cache	HTTP Layer	Depends on setup	Caching API/page responses