If you do not see instructions for your specific version or browser, search your
browser's Help
menu for "clear cache". If you're unsure what browser version you're using, from
the Help
menu, select About [browser
name].
Note: In Internet Explorer and Firefox, if you do not see the menu
bar, press Alt.
On this page:
Each time you access a file through your web browser, the browser caches (i.e.,
stores) it. Thus, the browser doesn't have to newly retrieve files (including any
images on the page) from the remote web site each time you click
Back or
Forward. You should periodically clear the cache to allow
your browser to function more efficiently.
A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a web site, that is stored on a computer. These files typically store user-specific information such as selections in a form, shopping cart contents, or authentication data. Browsers will normally clear cookies that reach a certain age, but clearing them manually may solve problems with web sites or your browser.
A browser's history is a log of sites that you visit. When you press a browser's
Back button,
you are moving back one entry the history log. Browsers will normally clear history
at regular intervals, but you may want to clear it manually for privacy reasons.