Description: Expiration refers to the period of time after which cached content is considered outdated and needs to be updated. In the context of content delivery networks and web caching, expiration is crucial to ensure that users receive the most recent and relevant information. This mechanism is based on caching policies that determine how long a resource can be stored in cache before it is deemed ‘expired’. Expiration can be configured through HTTP headers, such as ‘Cache-Control’ and ‘Expires’, which indicate to servers and browsers how long they should retain the content. Proper management of expiration not only improves bandwidth efficiency but also optimizes user experience by reducing load times. In the case of DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), expiration refers to the duration that a given IP address assigned to a device remains valid before it must be renewed. This ensures that IP addresses are not indefinitely assigned to devices that are no longer on the network, allowing for more efficient management of network resources.
