Staging Cache

What is Webflow Staging Cache?

The Staging Cache in Webflow corresponds to a cache system specially designed for previews of sites that are being created or modified. It acts like a Preview CDN, temporarily storing intermediate versions or “staging” of a site in order to optimize display speed when users view changes in real time. This dedicated cache makes it possible to reduce the server load and considerably reduce the loading time of pages in edit mode, while separating the preview version from the traditional site visitors.

How does the preview CDN work in Webflow?

When working on a Webflow project, each change you make requires you to be visible quickly to check its rendering before publication. Here, the Staging Cache acts as an intermediate layer that:

• Store modified versions in a network of geographically distributed servers (CDN) in order to bring user data closer together.
• Cache these versions so that they load instantly when accessing the preview, without requiring generation or full loading from the main server each time.
• Maintains sync in order to quickly purge or renew the cache as soon as a change is saved, ensuring that the preview always corresponds to the latest current version.

This technique greatly improves the user experience for designers and developers, so they can visualize updates without significant slowdowns.

Why use a Staging Cache separate from the production cache?

The distinction between production cache and staging cache is crucial for:

• Ensuring the stability of end visitors, which access only the published and final version of the site, reinforcing the reliability and consistency of the customer experience.
• Enabling safe experiments, where changes can be tested, reviewed, and corrected without the risk of affecting the integrity of the online site.
• Optimize performance, because the staging cache can be more dynamic and frequently purged than the production cache, which focuses on durability and maximum speed over stable content.
• Increase the responsiveness of the Webflow editor, facilitating a continuous development cycle and with almost immediate feedback.

In short, this dual cache management guarantees a clear separation of environments and a smooth workflow.

Advantages and limitations of Webflow Staging Cache

Benefits

• Reduced wait times when previewing changes.
• Productivity improvement for design and development teams.
• Less load on core servers thanks to distribution via CDN.
• Better management of environments to avoid conflicts and errors in production.

Limits

• Temporary storage : cached versions are ephemeral and do not replace a true versioning or backup system.
• Possible update delay in case of a cache not purged properly, which may cause a temporary lag between the actual content and the preview.
• Use for previews only, not applicable for public online content.

Conclusion

Webflow Staging Cache, through its role as Preview CDN, is an essential component in providing a fast and responsive website design experience. By effectively separating development versions from production versions, it ensures an optimized work environment where changes can be viewed instantly without compromising the stability of the public site. It is a key tool for designers and developers who want to accelerate their workflow in the Webflow platform.