---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/nextjs-caching-use-cache.md
title: "Caching with the use cache directive"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "MIT (vercel/next.js); prose restates cited source lines in own words"
license_family: nextjs-mit
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: Next.js docs, Caching, MIT (vercel/next.js); Next.js docs, use cache, MIT (vercel/next.js). Copyright (c) 2025 Vercel, Inc. MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vercel/next.js/canary/license.md)."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-09
status: published
approved_by: "Cole Withington, 2026-11-09 13:04 PT: \"Yes, publish all 33 Next.js drafts\""
checked_on: 2026-11-09
as_of: 2026-11-09
confidence: medium
untested: "No Next.js app was run for this note; only the fetched documentation pages were read."
category: coding-references
topic_area: "code-web: Next.js caching"
tags: [nextjs, caching, use-cache, cache-components]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Caching"
    publisher: Next.js docs
    url: https://nextjs.org/docs/app/getting-started/caching
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "MIT (vercel/next.js)"
  - id: S2
    title: "use cache"
    publisher: Next.js docs
    url: https://nextjs.org/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-cache
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "MIT (vercel/next.js)"
---
# Caching with the use cache directive

**Answer:** The `use cache` directive caches the return value of async functions and components when Cache Components are enabled.

## Enable Cache Components

`use cache` is a Cache Components feature. Enable it with the `cacheComponents` option in `next.config`.

## Placement

Add `use cache` at function, component, or file level. Cached functions and components must be async. At file level, every exported function becomes a cached function and must also be async.

## Data functions

To cache an asynchronous function that fetches data, add the `use cache` directive near the top of that function.

## See also

- [nextjs-revalidating](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/nextjs-revalidating/)
- [nextjs-fetching-data](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/nextjs-fetching-data/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: use cache caches async return values.
  source: S1
  evidence: "The [`use cache`](/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-cache) directive caches the return value of async functions and components."

- id: C2
  claim: use cache needs Cache Components.
  source: S2
  evidence: "`use cache` is a Cache Components feature."

- id: C3
  claim: File-level cached exports must be async.
  source: S2
  evidence: "When used at file level, every exported function becomes a cached function and must also"

- id: C4
  claim: Cache a data function with use cache.
  source: S1
  evidence: "To cache an asynchronous function that fetches data, add the `use cache` directive at the"

## Sources

- [S1] Caching. Next.js docs. https://nextjs.org/docs/app/getting-started/caching . License: MIT (vercel/next.js). Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S2] use cache. Next.js docs. https://nextjs.org/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-cache . License: MIT (vercel/next.js). Accessed 2026-11-09.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Copyright (c) 2025 Vercel, Inc. Sources: Next.js docs (vercel/next.js on GitHub / nextjs.org), MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vercel/next.js/canary/license.md). Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

---

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