What Is a Temporary Internet File?
A
temporary Internet file is a file that is located on your
hard
drive that a
browser
uses to store
Web site data for every
Web page
or URL
address that you visit. When the
Web server
sends the Web page files to the browser, they are stored in a
file so that
the next time you visit the same Web site the browser takes the data
from the temporary Internet file. Loading the Web site in this way
from a temporary Internet file is called
caching.
With this method, the page quickly
displays in the
browser
instead of having to wait for response from the Web site's
server
all over again. Basically, the browser is opening the Web page from
your hard drive instead of downloading the files from the
Internet.
Only the new content since your last visit would be downloaded on
consecutive visits to a
Web page.
Not only is it faster to view the content from your temporary
Internet files rather than from the
Web server,
but if your Internet connection is unavailable you can view the
cached versions of recently visited Web pages while
offline. Where Are They Stored On My Computer?
On a Windows-based computer Temporary Internet Files is actually the
name of the directory used by
Internet Explorer to cache the pages you
visit. Many different types of files are saved to the Temporary Internet
Files folder when you visit a Web page, such as HTML, images, JavaScript,
style sheets, video files,
cookies and more. If you're using
Firefox rather
than Internet Explorer the term cache is used instead of Temporary Internet
Files. |
Key Terms To
Understanding Temporary Internet Files:
Related Articles
on Webopedia:
|
Privacy Issues
The name temporary Internet file is actually a bit misleading in that the
files are not really temporary. These files will stay on your hard drive
until you clear the cache. The storage of temporary Internet files on
your hard drive leads to two separate concerns. The first issue being
one of privacy. Anyone with access to your computer can go into the
Temporary Internet Files folder on your hard drive and see which Web sites
you have visited. Looking through a person's temporary Internet files can
tell you a lot about that person. In fact, in
cyber forensics one part of
the evidence gathering process will include searching a suspected criminal's
temporary Internet files.
Getting Rid of Temporary Internet Files
Another area of concern with the storage of
temporary Internet files on your hard drive is that a buildup of data in the temporary Internet
file will eventually slow a
processor down as it takes up valuable resource
space. Fortunately, browsers that use a temporary Internet file also have methods for
deleting the file. Here is how you locate and delete your temporary Internet
files (or cache) when using Internet Explorer or Firefox on a Windows-based
system:
Internet Explorer (version 7)
Tools > Internet Options > General > Browsing
History > Settings
From this window you can choose how often newer versions of Web pages
are stored, and also choose how much disk space you want to allocate to
temporary Internet files. This screen will also show you where the
Temporary Internet Files folder is on your hard drive. To delete the
temporary Internet files from the "Browsing History" tab you simply
click Delete then select Delete Files in the Temporary Internet Files
tab in the next window.
Firefox (version 2)
Tools > Options > Privacy > Private Data >
Settings
In the Settings window you can check the "cache" button and apply and
save changes. In the future you can simply click "Clear Now" from the
Private Data tab to remove your temp files.
Internet Explorer (version 7) |
Firefox (version 2) |
Screenshots showing how to clear
the Temporary Internet Files and cache from within Internet
Explorer and Firefox browsers.
Click to view larger images. |
Other Options
In addition to accessing the temporary Internet files through your
browser or by locating the folder on your hard drive where they are stored
and deleting the files manually, you can also invest in a third party
software to handle the removal of these files from your computer. These
tools will help you manage the deletion of your browsing history, temporary
Internet files, cache, cookies and more. The "Links" section below lists
several third party applications for deleting temporary Internet files from
your hard drive.
By Vangie Beal
Writer, www.Webopedia.com
Last updated: February 01, 2008
All About Web
Browsers
Web browsers, often referred to just as browsers, are software applications used
to locate and display Web pages on the World Wide Web. While this is the most
popular usage, browsers can also be used to access and view content on a private
or local network as well.
What You Need to Know About Cookies
Cookies are messages given to a Web browser by a Web server. The main purpose of
a cookie is to identify users and possibly prepare customized Web pages or to
save site login information for you.
Microsoft Help Pages: How and Why to Clear Your Cache
Often referred to as the cache, the Temporary Internet Files folder contains a
kind of travel record of the items you have seen, heard, or downloaded from the
Web, including images, sounds, Web pages, even cookies. Typically these items
are stored in the Temporary Internet Files folder.
Firefox Web site
This official Firefox Web site features user information, documentation, and the
downloadable Firefox files.
Clear History
Clear All History lets you clear Internet history and other computer activity
tracks from your PC
Winclear
Winclear is an Internet history eraser that protects your Internet privacy by
cleaning up all tracks of your Internet and computer activity.
Private IE
Private IE is a program that was designed for the purpose of managing and
deleting the telling web tracks and files stored on your computer. |
