Versioned File Names

Question 1

What are versioned file names?

Answer 1

Versioned file names include a unique version number or identifier within the file name to force browsers to load the most recent version of the file.

Question 2

Why are versioned file names used?

Answer 2

They prevent browsers from serving outdated cached content by ensuring each version of a file is uniquely identifiable and fetched from the server.

Question 3

How are versioned file names typically implemented?

Answer 3

Filename Changes: Add a version number directly to the filename (e.g., script_v1.0.js).
Query Strings: Attach a version number as a query string to the file URL (e.g., style.css?v=1.1).

Question 4

What are the benefits of using versioned file names?

Answer 4

They ensure all users see the latest version of your website’s content without needing to manually clear their browser caches, improving user experience and site reliability.