What is a cache?
Your browser’s cache holds the contents of all the pages that you have visited during a session. It monitors requests for HTML pages and image files and saves copies for itself. Then, if there is another request for the same page or file, it will use the copy that it has, instead of asking the server for it again. Since the request is satisfied locally, it takes less time for your browser to retrieve and display the page.
Refreshing your browser
If you are visiting a website containing information that is updated frequently (such a sports or news site), you may need to refresh the webpage again to get the most current information. By reloading the page, your browser will pull the most timely data from the web server instead of accessing it from your cache. Below are instructions for refreshing your browser.
Refreshing your Browser in Firefox
- Press the shift key on your keyboard and keep it held down.
- Click reload on Firefox’s graphical toolbar menu.
- Keep your finger on the shift key until you see the page reload.
Refreshing your Browser in Internet Explorer
- Press the shift key on your keyboard and keep it held down.
- Select view from the Internet Explorer file menu and click refresh .
- Keep your finger on the shift key until you see the page reload.
Clearing your browser’s cache
If you’ve viewed lots of web pages you may have an overloaded cache, which your browser will have to check each time it loads a new page. Many standard browser issues are in fact a result of a full cache. Having a full cache can cause you to run out of disk space, force your browser to load an out-of-date page or image, or make your browser take longer than usual to exit. Clearing your browser’s cache periodically will eliminate some of these problems.
Clearing the cache in Internet Explorer
- Click Tools.
- Select Internet Options.
- Click Delete Files under Temporary Internet Files section.
- Click Clear History under History section.
- Click OK.
Clearing the cache in Firefox
- Go to the Tools menu and select Options….
- Select the Advanced panel.
- Click the Network tab.
- In the Offline Storage section, click Clear Now.
For further information on clearing the Firefox web browser, you can visit the following site:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+clear+the+cache
Clearing the cache in other browsers
If you use AOL, Earthlink, or another online service that provides a customized browser, you may have trouble modifying browser settings. You may want to download the latest version of Firefox or Internet Explorer and use it for logging into Blackboard instead of your service provider’s browser. For example, if you use AOL, the AOL browser will open automatically when you login. Once you’ve logged in, simply minimize the AOL browser screen (without disconnecting) and then open your copy of Firefox or Internet Explorer to access Blackboard.
You can download Firefox from the UNC-Chapel Hill Shareware site.
You can also download Internet Explorer version 8 from Microsoft’s IE download site.
