Cached Data
Also known as: what is cached data, cached data meaning
Cached data is temporary files an app saves locally so it can reload content faster instead of re-fetching it. It includes downloaded images, thumbnails, web assets, and prefetched media. Cache is regenerable: deleting it frees space without losing accounts, settings, or your real documents.
- Cache holds temporary, regenerable copies (thumbnails, media, web assets), not your originals.
- Clearing cache keeps your logins and settings; clearing data resets the app entirely.
- Both Android and iOS can auto-purge app caches when storage runs low.
What "cached data" actually is
A cache is a store of temporary, regenerable files that an app keeps on the device to avoid downloading or recomputing the same content twice. Typical cached items are image and video thumbnails, decoded media, web page assets, map tiles, and prefetched feed content. The original data still lives on the server, so the cache is a local convenience copy.
On Android, apps write this to a dedicated cache directory (`getCacheDir()` / `getExternalCacheDir()`), which the system may purge automatically when storage runs low. On iOS there is a comparable Caches folder inside each app's sandbox that is excluded from backups and can be reclaimed by the OS under pressure.
Why clearing it is safe
Clearing cache is distinct from clearing data. Clearing cache removes only the throwaway copies; the app simply re-downloads or rebuilds them on next use, so you keep your login, settings, and saved content. Clearing data (or "Clear storage") resets the app to a fresh-install state and can sign you out or delete local content.
This is exactly what a cleaner targets first because it reclaims space with no meaningful loss. Cleanor identifies cache directories across apps and reports how much is recoverable; the trade-off is only that the next launch may be slightly slower while the cache rebuilds.