Problem
Content on the site, such as a homepage or a list of upcoming events, isn't updating.
Background Information
There are three systems at play that keep website performance in check.
- Drupal's internal index of content is refreshed nightly (in a scheduled maintenance task called "Cron"). This index makes dynamic lists possible.
- Drupal's internal cache of blocks and theme elements is cleared on a per-page basis after 6 hours, and after certain events.
- The website employs a secondary caching layer called Varnish. It caches pages very aggressively, but expires after 6 hours.
Solution
- If there's a discrepancy between logged-in and unlogged views of the same page, press CTRL-F5 in your unlogged web browser to clear the Varnish cache for that page. Then reload the page normally.
- If a dynamic list isn't showing new content whether logged-in or not, wait overnight for the cache to clear. For time-critical content, email Help@ala.org and request a cache clear for your website.