Ehcache
The de facto standard for Java caching.
Overview
Ehcache is a widely used, open-source caching library for Java. It provides simple, fast, and flexible caching for Java applications, helping to improve performance by reducing the load on underlying data sources. It can be used as a simple in-process cache or as a distributed cache in a clustered environment. It is often used with frameworks like Spring and Hibernate.
✨ Key Features
- In-process and distributed caching
- JSR-107 (JCache) compliant
- Tiered caching (memory and disk)
- Integration with popular Java frameworks (Spring, Hibernate)
- Cache-through, -aside, and -behind patterns
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Long-standing reputation and wide adoption in the Java community
- JSR-107 compliance ensures standardization
- Simple to set up and use for in-process caching
Unique Value: Provides a simple, standards-based, and effective way to improve the performance of Java applications through caching.
🎯 Use Cases (3)
✅ Best For
- Caching frequently accessed objects in enterprise Java applications
- Improving performance of database-backed applications
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Non-Java applications
- Large-scale, standalone in-memory data grids
🏆 Alternatives
While newer libraries like Caffeine may offer higher in-process performance, Ehcache is a more established and feature-rich solution, especially for distributed use cases via Terracotta. It is more lightweight than full data grids like Hazelcast for simple caching needs.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Fully open-source.
🔄 Similar Tools in In-Memory Databases
Redis
An open-source, in-memory data structure store, used as a database, cache, and message broker....
Hazelcast
A real-time data platform that combines a fast data store with a stream processing engine....
Apache Ignite
A distributed database, caching, and processing platform for transactional, analytical, and streamin...
SAP HANA
An in-memory, column-oriented, relational database management system developed and marketed by SAP S...
SingleStore
A distributed, SQL database that handles both transactional and analytical workloads in a single pla...
Aerospike
A multi-model, NoSQL database designed for high-performance, real-time applications at petabyte scal...