What is Back/forward cache?
Also called: bfcache
The short answer
The back/forward cache keeps a complete snapshot of a page in memory so pressing Back or Forward restores it instantly instead of reloading.
Back/forward cache, explained
Certain patterns, such as unload handlers or no-store cache headers, make a page ineligible; fixing them makes navigation feel instant for free.
Questions people ask about Back/forward cache
What is Back/forward cache?
The back/forward cache keeps a complete snapshot of a page in memory so pressing Back or Forward restores it instantly instead of reloading.
Related terms
A cache is a stored copy of something, like a page or image, kept closer to the visitor so it loads instantly next time instead of being fetched again.
Page speedPage speed is how quickly a web page loads and becomes usable, measured by metrics like Largest Contentful Paint, Interaction to Next Paint and layout stability.
Core Web VitalsCore Web Vitals are Google's three user-experience metrics: Largest Contentful Paint for loading, Interaction to Next Paint for responsiveness and Cumulative Layout Shift for visual stability.
Largest Contentful PaintLargest Contentful Paint measures how long it takes for the largest visible element, usually the hero image or headline, to appear; good is 2.5 seconds or less.
Part of the Web Encyclopedia by Apex Flow Digital. Definitions are general knowledge, kept current, with no invented statistics.