When you return to the same page, the browser can load the page data from the cache file, provided the page data hasn’t changed. Unlike cache files, temp files are usually removed by the process that created them, usually when the process exits, or during a shutdown or restart cycle.Įxamples of cache files include browser caches that save the information from a webpage. Temp files tend to be more static, created by an app or system process to temporarily store data that is later used by the process that created the file. They can also remain through shutdown or restart cycles. They’re being accessed and updated frequently, and they can remain after the app or system function that created them has closed or exited. It’s also common to hear about removing these files to free up space on a Mac’s startup drive.īut before we head down the road to clearing out cache and temp files, let’s take a moment to find out what functions they serve, and whether it’s really a good idea to remove them willy-nilly.Ĭache and temp files serve a similar function they provide a place to temporarily store data in files on your Mac.Ĭache files are much more dynamic. There are numerous times when removing a cache or temp file may be part of a troubleshooting tip to return an app or the system to a more robust condition. You’ve no doubt heard the term cache and temp files, at least as it relates to your Mac.

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