@Cacheable, @CachePut, @CacheEvict
Control caching behavior precisely.
@Cacheable, @CachePut, @CacheEvict is a free Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
The Three Cache Annotations
Spring offers three method-level cache annotations:
@Cacheable— read-through, store the result@CachePut— always run, update the cache@CacheEvict— remove entries
@Cacheable
@Cacheable checks the cache first; on a miss it runs the method and stores the result.
@Cacheable("products")
public Product findById(Long id) {
return repository.findById(id).orElseThrow();
}Conditional Caching
Use condition to cache only when a predicate holds, and unless to skip caching certain results.
@Cacheable(value = "products",
unless = "#result == null")
public Product findById(Long id) { ... }@CachePut
@CachePut always executes the method and stores the returned value — ideal for update methods that should refresh the cache.
@CachePut(value = "products", key = "#product.id")
public Product update(Product product) {
return repository.save(product);
}Cacheable vs CachePut
@Cacheable may skip the method on a hit; @CachePut never skips. Never put both on the same method — their behaviors conflict.
@CacheEvict
@CacheEvict removes an entry, typically after a delete or update that invalidates cached data.
@CacheEvict(value = "products", key = "#id")
public void delete(Long id) {
repository.deleteById(id);
}Evicting Everything
Use allEntries = true to clear an entire cache at once.
@CacheEvict(value = "products", allEntries = true)
public void reloadAll() {
// bulk refresh
}Evict Before or After
By default eviction happens after the method succeeds. Set beforeInvocation = true to evict even if the method throws.
@CacheEvict(value = "products",
allEntries = true, beforeInvocation = true)
public void risky() { ... }Grouping with @Caching
@Caching combines multiple cache operations on one method.
@Caching(
put = @CachePut(value = "products", key = "#p.id"),
evict = @CacheEvict(value = "productList",
allEntries = true))
public Product save(Product p) {
return repository.save(p);
}Class-Level Config
@CacheConfig sets a default cache name for all methods in a class, reducing repetition.
@Service
@CacheConfig(cacheNames = "products")
public class ProductService {
@Cacheable(key = "#id")
public Product findById(Long id) { ... }
}Self-Invocation Caveat
Cache annotations work via proxies, so a method calling another cached method in the same class bypasses the cache. Call through a separate bean.
Quick Check
Test your understanding of the cache annotations.
Recap
You learned the three cache annotations:
@Cacheable— store and reuse results@CachePut— always run and refresh@CacheEvict— remove entries (allEntries,beforeInvocation)- Watch out for the self-invocation proxy caveat
Frequently asked questions
Is the “@Cacheable, @CachePut, @CacheEvict” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “@Cacheable, @CachePut, @CacheEvict” is free to read here on the web, and the Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “@Cacheable, @CachePut, @CacheEvict”?
Control caching behavior precisely. You practise Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs?
No prior experience is required. Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “@Cacheable, @CachePut, @CacheEvict” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs lesson?
Yes. Every Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- The Spring Cache Abstraction
- @Cacheable, @CachePut, @CacheEvict
- Redis as a Cache Provider
- Cache TTL and Invalidation