how to enable cache for static content in asp.net web development?

Question

ICSM Computer · Answer

To manage HTTP cache control directives like
public, private, no-cache, etc. in 
ASP.NET Web Forms or MVC (not Core), you typically set them in:
web.config – for static contentCode (Controller or Page Level) – for dynamic content (HTML, JSON, etc.)
1. Set Cache Directives in web.config (Static Content)
andlt;configurationandgt;
  andlt;system.webServerandgt;
    andlt;httpProtocolandgt;
      andlt;customHeadersandgt;
        andlt;add name="Cache-Control" value="public, max-age=31536000" /andgt;
      andlt;/customHeadersandgt;
    andlt;/httpProtocolandgt;
  andlt;/system.webServerandgt;
andlt;/configurationandgt;
Examples:
public – allow CDN/proxies to cache.private – only browser can cache.no-store – prevent all caching.no-cache – requires validation before use.
2. Set Cache Control in ASP.NET MVC Controllers (Dynamic Content)
Use the Response.Cache object.
public Cache Example:
public ActionResult StaticData()
{
    Response.Cache.SetCacheability(HttpCacheability.Public);
    Response.Cache.SetExpires(DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(10));
    Response.Cache.SetMaxAge(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(10));
    return Content("This is cacheable public content");
}
private Cache Example:
public ActionResult UserProfile()
{
    Response.Cache.SetCacheability(HttpCacheability.Private);
    Response.Cache.SetExpires(DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(5));
    Response.Cache.SetMaxAge(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5));
    return View();
}
no-cache Example:
public ActionResult LiveData()
{
    Response.Cache.SetCacheability(HttpCacheability.NoCache);
    Response.Cache.SetNoStore();
    Response.Cache.SetExpires(DateTime.UtcNow);
    return Json(new { time = DateTime.UtcNow }, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
}
3. Web Forms Page Level Caching (@OutputCache)
Set caching and scope directly on .aspx page:
andlt;%@ OutputCache Duration="60" VaryByParam="none" Location="Any" %andgt;
Location Options:
Any → Same as publicClient → Same as privateNone → No cachingServer → Cache only on server
Summary of HttpCacheability in ASP.NET
Value
HTTP Cache-Control Header
Behavior
Public
public, max-age=...
Cached by browser and proxies/CDNs
Private
private, max-age=...
Cached only by the user's browser
NoCache
no-cache
Must revalidate with server before reuse
NoStore
no-store
Nothing stored anywhere
Server
(No Cache-Control, server-managed)
Cached on server only
ServerAndNoCache
no-cache (for server-side cache)
Server cache + client must revalidate
View Result in Browser
Use Chrome DevTools → Network tab → click any static/dynamic response → check
Headers for:
Cache-Control: public, max-age=600

Value	HTTP Cache-Control Header	Behavior
`Public`	`public, max-age=...`	Cached by browser and proxies/CDNs
`Private`	`private, max-age=...`	Cached only by the user's browser
`NoCache`	`no-cache`	Must revalidate with server before reuse
`NoStore`	`no-store`	Nothing stored anywhere
`Server`	(No Cache-Control, server-managed)	Cached on server only
`ServerAndNoCache`	`no-cache` (for server-side cache)	Server cache + client must revalidate

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how to enable cache for static content in asp.net web development?

ICSM Computer

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1 Answers

1. Set Cache Directives in `web.config` (Static Content)

Examples:

2. Set Cache Control in ASP.NET MVC Controllers (Dynamic Content)

`public` Cache Example:

`private` Cache Example:

`no-cache` Example:

3. Web Forms Page Level Caching (`@OutputCache`)

Location Options:

Summary of `HttpCacheability` in ASP.NET

View Result in Browser

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