Cache
How query string cache works
Quota calculation
In other word, you will only be charged when our server generates an image for you i.e. cache miss on our server.
How it works?
1. User sends a request
User's browser send a request to get an image. This image points to Query String URL integration that we have set up previously.
2. CloudFront intercepts the request
Images are cached on Amazon CloudFront. This is why Stencil image's load is so fast because we are using Amazon CloudFront to cache in multiple locations throughout the world.
If images are in CloudFront's cache, it will return the cache version (i.e. go to step 4 directly). Otherwise it will send a request to Stencil.
3. Stencil's cache
Stencil maintains a smart cache, we won't go into details on how it works but it can figure out whether you're generating the same image as before or it is a new image.
If a new image needs to be generated, your quota will be deducted. Otherwise, your usage remains unchanged.
4. Back to Cloudfront's cache
Amazon CloudFront will cache this image returned by our server. Any subsequent requests will hit Amazon CloudFront.
Headers
To assist with issues, image response header contains some useful information to know whether cache is working as intended.
Header | Description |
| This is CloudFront cache header. |
| This is Stencil cache header. |
| If image fails to be generated, please check the status code and this header. This header contains the reason of image failure. |
Sometimes you will getx-cache: HIT and x-stencil-cache: MISS within the same response. Don't worry, your usage will remain unchanged.
This happens when an image is first generated and the subsequent cache hit from CloudFront also caches this header value.
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