For modern ASP.NET Core, choose a cache based on what you need to reuse and whether requests can reach more than one server: use IMemoryCache for local application data, a distributed cache for data shared across servers, HTTP response caching for responses governed by HTTP cache directives, and output caching when the server must control response-cache policy. Treat every cached value as disposable, set expiration and memory limits deliberately, and keep the source of truth available. These recommendations primarily cover ASP.NET Core, including .NET 10 guidance; they are not universal instructions for legacy ASP.NET on .NET Framework.
First identify what is being cached
Application data and complete HTTP responses have different caching rules. A data cache stores values your code can retrieve; a response cache stores eligible HTTP responses. Also decide whether the cache must be visible to one server or shared across several, and whether the client or the server should control response reuse.
| Need | ASP.NET Core option | Visibility and control |
|---|---|---|
| Reuse application data within one server | IMemoryCache |
Local to that server process; suitable for a single server or deployments using session affinity. |
| Share application data across servers | IDistributedCache with a provider such as Redis, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or NCache |
Shared through an external store; values are stored as byte[]. |
| Cache eligible HTTP responses under HTTP semantics | Response caching middleware | Follows cache directives from HTTP requests and responses. |
| Cache HTTP responses under server-defined rules | Output caching (.NET 7 and later) | Server policy controls caching; supports invalidation and resource locking. |
| Use a unified local and secondary cache API | HybridCache |
Combines in-process caching with an out-of-process cache when an IDistributedCache implementation is configured. |
Use in-memory caching for local, disposable data
IMemoryCache keeps entries in the web server’s memory. It is a good fit when an application runs on one server, or when session affinity reliably sends a client’s requests to the same server. With multiple servers and no shared cache, each server has its own entries; a value cached on one node is not automatically available on another. See Microsoft’s in-memory caching guidance.
Cache values that are expensive to generate and change infrequently, but design the application to function when an entry is missing or expires. Microsoft puts the principle plainly: “Apps should be written and tested to never depend on cached data.” The authoritative source—such as a database or service—must remain the fallback.
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Set expiration and memory limits
- Give entries an expiration policy appropriate to how quickly the underlying data can become stale.
- Set an explicit cache size limit when the application needs a bound. The runtime does not automatically limit
IMemoryCachesize in response to memory pressure. - Use consistent size units if you configure a size limit and assign sizes to entries; the cache does not infer the real memory footprint of arbitrary objects.
- Avoid arbitrary user-controlled cache keys. Unbounded or attacker-selected keys can cause uncontrolled cache growth.
Use a distributed cache when servers must share entries
If requests can land on any application server and those servers need to see the same cached values, use a shared store behind IDistributedCache, rather than assuming local memory is shared. ASP.NET Core provider options documented by Microsoft include SQL Server, Redis, PostgreSQL, and NCache. The API stores values as byte arrays, so applications commonly serialize and deserialize their data around cache reads and writes. Review the distributed caching guidance for provider setup and framework-version details.
Choose a provider for the workload you have
Microsoft says Redis often provides higher throughput and lower latency than SQL Server for most applications, but recommends benchmarking with the application’s own workload rather than treating that as a guarantee. SQL Server cache activity can also compete with ordinary application database work; Microsoft recommends a dedicated SQL Server instance for cache storage when avoiding that contention matters. Compare the infrastructure you already operate, performance needs, cost, and team experience before choosing. See Microsoft’s caching overview and distributed cache provider guidance.
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Choose response caching or output caching for HTTP responses
Response caching follows HTTP directives
ASP.NET Core response caching follows HTTP Cache-Control semantics and respects directives in requests. It is intended for eligible public GET or HEAD responses, but may provide little benefit for UI requests because browsers commonly send directives that prevent caching. Never make authenticated or identity-specific content reusable through a shared response cache policy. Microsoft’s response caching documentation describes the middleware and its HTTP behavior.
Output caching follows server-defined policy
Output caching, available in .NET 7 and later, lets the server decide which responses to cache regardless of client request cache directives. It supports programmatic invalidation and resource locking, which can reduce duplicate work when concurrent requests need the same uncached resource. In the .NET 10 documentation, the default store is in-memory; a Redis output-cache store is also documented for sharing entries across nodes. Do not assume the default memory store gives multi-server consistency. See Microsoft’s output caching documentation.
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For either response mechanism, ensure the policy cannot serve one user’s private content to another user. Cache only responses whose contents are safe to reuse for every request that can match the policy.
Consider HybridCache when a two-level API fits
ASP.NET Core’s HybridCache provides a unified API for in-process and out-of-process caching. When an IDistributedCache implementation is present, it can use that as a secondary cache alongside local memory, and the API includes stampede protection. Verify compatibility with the application’s target framework and package versions; the cited overview is for ASP.NET Core 8, so check the documentation for the version you deploy. See Microsoft’s HybridCache overview.
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Apply a cache policy that can recover safely
- Identify the source of truth. Decide how the application obtains the current value if the cache is empty, expired, unavailable, or invalidated.
- Choose the scope. Use local memory only when node-local entries meet the deployment’s needs; use a distributed store when several servers need shared state.
- Set freshness and capacity rules. Choose expiration based on data change patterns, bound memory intentionally, and keep cache keys controlled.
- For responses, choose who governs reuse. Use response caching when HTTP cache directives are appropriate; use output caching when server policy, invalidation, or resource locking is required.
- Test under realistic conditions. Exercise cache misses, expiry, invalidation, provider outages, concurrent requests, and requests routed to different nodes. Benchmark distributed providers with the application’s actual workload.
Legacy ASP.NET on .NET Framework is a separate case
This guidance focuses on ASP.NET Core APIs and should not be copied verbatim into ASP.NET Web Forms or MVC applications running on .NET Framework. Microsoft documents System.Runtime.Caching/MemoryCache as a compatibility bridge when porting ASP.NET 4.x code to ASP.NET Core, while recommending Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory/IMemoryCache for stronger ASP.NET Core integration. Check the target framework’s documentation and APIs before applying a Core example to a legacy application. See Microsoft’s in-memory caching guidance.
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