The browser cache comes up a lot in answers, more than questions, but in doing so it probably causes even more questions. Even when following instructions to clear it, it's not at all clear what this piece of magic really is, and why clearing it would do anything at all.

Let's review the browser cache; what it is, and why it exists. Along the way we'll review the steps to clear it, in both Internet Explorer and Firefox, and try to dream up some reasons why that sometimes helps.