Database caching is a process included in the design of computer applications which generate web pages on-demand (dynamically) by accessing backend databases.
When these applications are deployed on multi-tier environments that involve browser-based clients, web application servers and backend databases,[1][2] middle-tier database caching is used to achieve high scalability and performance.
Database caching improves scalability by distributing query workload from backend to multiple cheap front-end systems.
Caching can improve availability of data, by providing continued service for applications that depend only on cached tables even if the backend server is unavailable.
Another benefit is improved data access speeds brought about by locality of data and smoothing out load peaks by avoiding round-trips between middle-tier and data-tier.