.. contents:: Topics


Cache Plugins
-------------

Cache plugin implement a backend caching mechanism that allows Ansible to store gathered facts or inventory source data
without the performance hit of retrieving them from source.

The default cache plugin is the :doc:`memory <cache/memory>` plugin, which only caches the data for the current execution of Ansible. Other plugins with persistent storage are available to allow caching the data across runs.


.. _enabling_cache:

Enabling Cache Plugins
++++++++++++++++++++++

Only one cache plugin can be active at a time.
You can enable a cache plugin in the Ansible configuration, either via environment variable:

.. code-block:: shell

    export ANSIBLE_CACHE_PLUGIN=jsonfile

or in the ``ansible.cfg`` file:

.. code-block:: ini

    [defaults]
    fact_caching=redis

You will also need to configure other settings specific to each plugin. Consult the individual plugin documentation
or the Ansible :ref:`configuration <ansible_configuration_settings>` for more details.

A custom cache plugin is enabled by dropping it into a ``cache_plugins`` directory adjacent to your play, inside a role, or by putting it in one of the directory sources configured in :ref:`ansible.cfg <ansible_configuration_settings>`.


.. _using_cache:

Using Cache Plugins
+++++++++++++++++++

Cache plugins are used automatically once they are enabled.


.. _cache_plugin_list:

Plugin List
+++++++++++

You can use ``ansible-doc -t cache -l`` to see the list of available plugins.
Use ``ansible-doc -t cache <plugin name>`` to see specific documentation and examples.

.. toctree:: :maxdepth: 1
    :glob:

    cache/*

.. seealso::

   :doc:`action`
       Ansible Action plugins
   :doc:`callback`
       Ansible callback plugins
   :doc:`connection`
       Ansible connection plugins
   :doc:`inventory`
       Ansible inventory plugins
   :doc:`shell`
       Ansible Shell plugins
   :doc:`strategy`
       Ansible Strategy plugins
   :doc:`vars`
       Ansible Vars plugins
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