"Stabilizing!" Capacity roared. "Memory allowance increased by 400%!"
The browser.cache.memory.capacity integer specifically controls the maximum size of this fast-access RAM cache in . Why Adjust It?
If the preference exists, double-click it (or click the pencil icon) to edit the value. Browser.cache.memory.capacity
: If the preference does not exist, select the Integer radio button, type the full string name, and click the + (Add) icon.
is extremely fast. Reading from RAM is orders of magnitude quicker than reading from even the fastest SSD. It also has unlimited read/write cycles, so you never have to worry about wearing it out. However, RAM is limited in total capacity, and the cache is volatile—it disappears when you close the browser. "Stabilizing
: Houses data directly inside the system RAM. It is volatile and vanishes when the browser closes, but it offers near-instantaneous retrieval speeds.
: Effectively disables the memory cache. This is generally not recommended as it forces the browser to fetch data from the slower disk cache or the internet for every request, potentially slowing down navigation. If the preference exists, double-click it (or click
The existing pref remains as the source of truth, but a background service overwrites it based on the new rules. About:config retains direct editing for power users.
Internet browsers face a continuous balancing act between speed and system resource consumption. Every webpage loaded contains images, scripts, style sheets, and multimedia assets. To avoid re-downloading these assets during navigation, browsers store them temporarily in a cache.