Browser cache management
Disclosed herein is a technique for storing and managing a number of resources and sub-resources associated with web pages in a cache implemented by a web browser. Metadata associated with the sub-resources is captured and stored in the cache. The metadata can include relationship or dependency information associated with a main resource and the sub-resources associated with the main resource. The previously captured metadata is used to predict any sub-resources that will be needed to properly display the web page and the predicted sub-resources are requested from the web server concurrently with a request for the main resource associated with the web page.
1. A method for predicting resources required to render web pages, the method comprising, at a mobile computing device on which a web browser is executing:
receiving a first request to load a main resource associated with a web page;
retrieving metadata associated with the main resource from a cache managed on the mobile computing device;
identifying, based on the metadata, a set of sub-resources associated with the main resource;
generating a prediction that a subset of the set of sub-resources will be needed to render the web page, wherein the subset includes at least one sub-resource included in the set; and
for each sub-resource in the subset:
obtaining the sub-resource from the cache in response to determining that (i) the sub-resource is stored in the cache, and (ii) a condition associated with the sub-resource is satisfied, otherwise
communicating, to a resource-based server, a respective request for the sub-resource.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises dependency information associated with the main resource and the set of sub-resources.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving an initial request for the main resource prior to the first request; and
in response to the initial request:
generating the dependency information associated with the main resource and the set of sub-resources, and
saving the dependency information in the cache.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource-based server is a web server.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the metadata associated with the main resource exists in the cache, and
performing the steps of retrieving, identifying, generating, and communicating in response to a determination that the metadata associated with the main resource exists in the cache.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the at least one sub-resource included in the prediction was used to render the web page.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
updating the metadata associated with the main resource in response to a determination that the at least one sub-resource was used to render the web page.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein updating the metadata further comprises:
updating a counter value associated with the at least one sub-resource.
9. A system, comprising:
a web server; and
a user device communicably coupled to the web server, wherein the user device executes a web browser configured to:
receive a first request to load a main resource associated with a web page;
retrieve metadata associated with the main resource, from a cache managed on the user device;
identify, based on the metadata, a set of sub-resources associated with the main resource;
generate a prediction that a subset of the set of sub-resources will be needed to render the web page, wherein the subset includes at least one sub-resource included in the set; and
for each sub-resource in the subset:
obtain the sub-resource from the cache in response to determining that (i) the sub-resource is stored in the cache, and (ii) a condition associated with the sub-resource is satisfied, otherwise
communicate, to a resource-based server, a respective request for the sub-resource.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the metadata comprises dependency information associated with the main resource and the set of sub-resources.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user device is further configured to:
receive an initial request for the main resource prior to the first request; and
in response to the initial request:
generate the dependency information associated with the main resource and the set of sub-resources, and
save the dependency information in the cache.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user device is further configured to:
determine whether the metadata associated with the main resource exists in the cache, and
perform the steps of retrieving, identifying, generating, and communicating in response to a determination that the metadata associated with the main resource exists in the cache.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user device is further configured to:
determine whether the at least one sub-resource included in the prediction was used to render the web page.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user device is further configured to:
update the metadata associated with the main resource in response to a determination that the at least one sub-resource was used to render the web page.
15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a user device, cause the user device to predict resources needed to render a web page, by carrying out steps that include:
receiving a first request to load a main resource associated with the web page;
retrieving metadata associated with the main resource from a cache managed on the user device;
identifying a set of sub-resources associated with the main resource based on metadata associated with the main resource;
generating a prediction that a subset of the set of sub-resources will be needed to render the web page, wherein the subset includes at least one sub-resource included in the set; and
for each sub-resource in the subset:
obtaining the sub-resource from the cache in response to determining that (i) the sub-resource is stored in the cache, and (ii) a condition associated with the sub-resource is satisfied, otherwise
communicating, to a resource-based server, a respective request for the sub-resource.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the resource-based server is a web server.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the metadata comprises dependency information associated with the main resource and the set of sub-resources.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the steps further include:
determining whether the metadata associated with the main resource exists in the cache, and
carrying out the steps of retrieving, identifying, generating, and communicating in response to a determination that the metadata associated with the main resource exists in the cache.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the steps further include:
determining whether the at least one sub-resource included in the prediction was used to render the web page.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the steps further include:
updating the metadata associated with the main resource in response to a determination that the at least one sub-resource was used to render the web page.