How to use caching in ASP.NET Web API?

Question

I am using ASP.NET MVC 4 with WEB API

I have the following action, in the action shown below, my service method makes a db call to DoMagic() method and returns an integer value which I am then using on every page, this action is called using an ajax call.

Below is my WEB API action :

[OutputCache(Duration = 86400, VaryByParam = "none")] [ActionName("GetMyMagicNumber")] public int GetMyMagicNumber() {     if (WebSecurity.IsAuthenticated)     {         var revenue = _magicService.DoMagic();         return revenue;     }     return 0; } 

My question : I haved tried using [OutputCache(Duration = 86400, VaryByParam = "none")] and I excepted that only the first time the db call will be made and next subsequent request to this action will return me the cached value, but this is not happening.

A db call is again made, the db call takes time how do I get this working ?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, caching is not built into ASP.NET Web API.

Check this out to get you on track: http://www.strathweb.com/2012/05/output-caching-in-asp-net-web-api/

An updated resource here: https://github.com/filipw/AspNetWebApi-OutputCache

EDIT: As of 2020-02-03, even though this answer is quite old, it's still valid.

Both of the URL's above lead to the same project, ASP.NET Web API CacheOutput by Filip W

Answer 2

Add a reference to System.Runtime.Caching in your project. Add a helper class :

using System; using System.Runtime.Caching;   public static class MemoryCacher {     public static object GetValue(string key)     {         MemoryCache memoryCache = MemoryCache.Default;         return memoryCache.Get(key);     }      public static bool Add(string key, object value, DateTimeOffset absExpiration)     {         MemoryCache memoryCache = MemoryCache.Default;         return memoryCache.Add(key, value, absExpiration);     }      public static  void Delete(string key)     {         MemoryCache memoryCache = MemoryCache.Default;         if (memoryCache.Contains(key))         {             memoryCache.Remove(key);         }     } } 

Then from your code get or set objects in the cache :

list = (List <ChapterEx>)MemoryCacher.GetValue("CacheItem1"); 

and

MemoryCacher.Add("CacheItem1", list, DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.AddYears(1));