What are the main pros and cons for using HttpRuntime Cache against using simple static field?
I need to store data in scope of entire
with the cache you can easily set an enddate to the validity; the cache object expires the content automaticly.
also the cache can be given a priority, that less important items can be given a low priority so when the server gets high load, that item is removed first
with cahce however you allways have to do some extra effort in your unit test because the httpcontext isn't available during unit tests.
HttpRuntime.Cache allows you to specify expiration callback, but with static dictionary you will have to wait for a query to run your expiration loop of your cache items.
Objects in HttpRuntime.Cache
have unknown expiry periods unless explicitly set (meaning that objects can expire any time), whereas objects within your HashTable
live for as your application pool is alive (unless you manually remove an entry). The HttpRuntime.Cache
also allows you to set various other characteristics, such as (optional) cache item priority and expiry time.