How do you implement caching in .NET? (e.g., MemoryCache, DistributedCache, Redis)

Question

Anubhav Kumar · Answer

Caching in .NET can be implemented in several ways, depending on your application's needs. Here are the common caching mechanisms:
1. In-Memory Caching (MemoryCache)
Useful for small-scale, short-lived caching within a single application instance.
Implementation Using MemoryCache
using System;
using System.Runtime.Caching;
class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        MemoryCache cache = MemoryCache.Default;
        string cacheKey = "myKey";
        string cachedData = cache[cacheKey] as string;
        if (cachedData == null)
        {
            cachedData = "Hello, World!"; // Expensive operation result
            cache.Set(cacheKey, cachedData, DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.AddMinutes(10));
        }
        Console.WriteLine(cachedData);
    }
}
Pros: Fast, easy to implement.Cons: Not suitable for multi-instance applications (data is lost when the app restarts).
and 
2. Distributed Caching (IDistributedCache)
Suitable for multi-instance applications, microservices, or cloud environments.
Implementation Using IDistributedCache (SQL Server, Redis, or In-Memory)
using Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Distributed;
using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
class Program
{
    static async Task Main()
    {
        var services = new ServiceCollection();
        services.AddDistributedMemoryCache(); // Replace with AddStackExchangeRedisCache() for Redis
        var provider = services.BuildServiceProvider();
        var cache = provider.GetRequiredServiceandlt;IDistributedCacheandgt;();
        string cacheKey = "myKey";
        byte[] cachedData = await cache.GetAsync(cacheKey);
        if (cachedData == null)
        {
            string data = "Hello, Distributed Cache!";
            byte[] dataBytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(data);
            await cache.SetAsync(cacheKey, dataBytes, new DistributedCacheEntryOptions
            {
                AbsoluteExpirationRelativeToNow = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(10)
            });
            Console.WriteLine("Cached: " + data);
        }
        else
        {
            Console.WriteLine("From Cache: " + Encoding.UTF8.GetString(cachedData));
        }
    }
}
Pros: Works across multiple instances, supports various providers (SQL, Redis).Cons: Requires additional setup and configuration.
and 
3. Redis Caching (StackExchange.Redis)
Best for high-performance, scalable applications.
Implementation Using Redis
using StackExchange.Redis;
using System;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
class Program
{
    static async Task Main()
    {
        ConnectionMultiplexer redis = await ConnectionMultiplexer.ConnectAsync("localhost");
        IDatabase db = redis.GetDatabase();
        string cacheKey = "myKey";
        string cachedData = await db.StringGetAsync(cacheKey);
        if (cachedData == null)
        {
            cachedData = "Hello, Redis!";
            await db.StringSetAsync(cacheKey, cachedData, TimeSpan.FromMinutes(10));
            Console.WriteLine("Cached: " + cachedData);
        }
        else
        {
            Console.WriteLine("From Cache: " + cachedData);
        }
    }
}
Pros: Scalable, supports persistence, widely used in cloud environments.Cons: Requires Redis setup and maintenance.
and 
Choosing the Right Cache
Caching Type
Use Case
MemoryCache
Simple, single-instance apps
IDistributedCache (SQL, Redis, etc.)
Multi-instance apps, ASP.NET Core apps
StackExchange.Redis
High-performance distributed caching
and

Caching Type	Use Case
`MemoryCache`	Simple, single-instance apps
`IDistributedCache` (SQL, Redis, etc.)	Multi-instance apps, ASP.NET Core apps
`StackExchange.Redis`	High-performance distributed caching

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How do you implement caching in .NET? (e.g., MemoryCache, DistributedCache, Redis)

Anubhav Kumar

Can you answer this question?

1 Answers

1. In-Memory Caching (MemoryCache)

2. Distributed Caching (`IDistributedCache`)

3. Redis Caching (`StackExchange.Redis`)

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