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temporary Internet file Last modified: Thursday, April 22, 2004

A file located on a user's hard disk in which a browser stores the Web site data for every Web page or URL address that a user visits. When the Web server sends the Web page files to the browser, they are stored in a file so that the next time the user visits the same Web site the browser takes the data from the temporary Internet file. With this method, the page quickly displays in the browser instead of having to wait for response from the Web site's server all over again. Basically, the browser is opening the Web page from the user’s hard drive instead of downloading the files from the Internet. A buildup of data in the temporary Internet file will eventually slow a processor down as it takes up valuable resource space. Browsers that use a temporary Internet file also have methods for deleting the file.