Synchronizing Server & Client Caches

[Niheel]

What's the best approach to synchronizing a client cache and a server cache.

The client cache is there to reduce network calls.
The server cache is here to reduce database queries.

If there's an update to the server data, what's the best approach to making sure the client cache is up to date?

[gits]

what exactly is your setup here? a web-application? when using regular http-requests then you cannot push data to the client - so you can only update the cache there with the next request by transferring the new data. other options are websockets or server side events which basically allow for a persistent connection and let you push data to the client in realtime.

[Niheel]

It's a server application that will talk to multitude of client applications (web, mobile, desktop, and other services).

The client caches are to help reduce network calls and also localize data for off-line usability.
Seems like the best approach is to have the client be responsible for updating the data.

[gits]

well - websockets for webclients are pretty easy to implement - for mobile devices probably this should be push notifications - since websocktes might tend to drain the device power. if it wouldn't need to be real time then i would use the normal requests to piggyback the new cache data along with them - yea.