How to cache images only in disk using Kingfisher?

Question

I am using Kingfisher library for downloading and caching images. I am facing some issues in the implementation:

1. Are the images cached in both memory and disk?

2. Is there any provision to cache images only on disk?

I have already read multiple posts regarding this, but couldn't find any solution.

Answer 1

Yes, Kingfisher caches images both in memory and on disk.

By default, the amount of RAM that will be used is not even limited, you have to set the value yourself:

ImageCache.default.maxMemoryCost = 1024 * 1024 * yourValue

where 1024 * 1024 * yourValue is the global cost in megapixels (I know this is weird, but it's not megabytes, it's megapixels, because images can have different bit depth, etc).

For example, in my tests, the maximum RAM used with a value of 1024 * 1024 * 500 fluctuates between 120MB and 300MB.

Incidentally, this is also how you tell Kingfisher to never use the RAM and only cache to disk:

ImageCache.default.maxMemoryCost = 1

This will force Kingfisher to only use the disk cache.

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How to debug

The first thing is to check that you're setting the max value on the right cache. Maybe you did create a custom cache? My example is setting the value for the default cache, the one used if no other is defined.

You may also want to manually clear the memory cache and compare the RAM occupation before and after:

ImageCache.default.clearMemoryCache()

If you think that some big image is in the memory cache when it shouldn't be, you can verify with isImageCached:

if let result = ImageCache.default.isImageCached(forKey: imageLink) {
    print(result.cached)
    print(result.cacheType)
}

Answer 2

If anyone looking for answer for downloading images explicitly and caching the same without using imageView the sample code is:

ImageDownloader.default.downloadImage(with: imgUrl, retrieveImageTask: nil, options: [], progressBlock: nil) { (image, error, url, data) in
                    print("Downloaded Image: \(url)")
                    //cache image:
                    if let image =  image, let url = url {
                        ImageCache.default.store(image, forKey: url.absoluteString)
                    }
                }

reference: https://github.com/onevcat/Kingfisher/wiki/Cheat-Sheet