Deleting from Laravel 4 cache using pattern for key?

Question

For my package we make use of the Laravel cache,

Every cache key we create is prefixed, so we get mypackage-config, mypackage-md5ofafilename At times I need to flush all cache files that my package has created, the issue? I only know the pattern of the cache keys, I don't know the entire key!

So, I need a way to go Cache::forget('mypackage-*') or similar, is this possible?

If it was just for my system I know I am using the file cache, so I could manually unlink the files, but because it is a generic package I don't know what cache method the end user is using, I just know the interface (aka the Laravel cache interface).

Answer 1

Another solution: as long as you are not using file or database cache you can make use of Cache Tags.

Just tag every cache entry with your package name:

Cache::tags('myPackage')->put('config', $config, $minutes);
Cache::tags('myPackage')->put('md5ofafilename', $md5, $minutes);

(You can also use the tags method with remember, forever, and rememberForever)

When it's time to flush the cache of your package's entries just do

Cache::tags('myPackage')->flush();

Note: When you need to access the cache entries you still need to reference the tags. E.g.

$myConfig = Cache::tags('myPackage')->get('config');

That way, another cache entry with key config having a different tag (e.g. hisPackage) will not conflict with yours.